Battery Warning Light

skoda_dragon · 16-09-2007, 11:22

Last night the battery warning light came on when i turned on the ignition and got brighter as i revved the engine. It won't disappear at all now. It's dim when the engine is idling and is constantly on when i'm driving. I've checked the voltages both when the engine is on & off and its around 13.5V-14V.

The battery and alternator are both only a couple of months old and the drive belt is still fairly good condition. Any ideas of the problem?? could it be a faulty alternator?

rigsby · 16-09-2007, 17:22

possible regulator fault or warning lamp wire shorting out

skoda_dragon · 16-09-2007, 19:34

The regulator came with the alternator so its brand new as well. Is it worth buying a new regulator and checking if it resolves the problem? I changed the belt today to see if the situation would improve but no luck. May have to be a garage job if i can't figure it out soon

KenONeill · 17-09-2007, 13:17

New alternators have been known to fail with these sorts of symptoms too. It happened to my dad once.

skoda_dragon · 20-09-2007, 18:17

tried a new regulator in the alternator but it hasnt made any difference. I've noticed that the alternator is not straight as well. Looks like it will have to go back to the shop

skoda_driver · 22-09-2007, 00:19

hi I had the same fault with my felicia. The AA tested my battery and alternator ,I ended up buying a new battery and alternator..

skoda_dragon · 04-10-2007, 19:01

I need to send my alternator away for repair and there is something from my old alternator that I had to attach to it and I want to make sure I get it back. Can anybody tell me what it is? I think it's some sort of capacitor or something. (The small white box thing at the top of the pic). Is it also possible to buy a new one or necessary to buy one. thanks in advance

KenONeill · 05-10-2007, 08:55

The markings that I can read on the box are mildly confusing; one seems to be a marking in microfarads, which would be a capacitor rating, but the other shows a circuit diagram of a capacitor in parallel with a diode.

skoda_dragon · 05-10-2007, 09:01

I've spoken to an electrical engineer and he reckons its to stop back emf on the alternator so that it doesn't damage the insulation. I take it not much can go wrong with these in terms of the operation of the alternator so I don't think I will need to buy another one. thanks for the replies

jeffers · 05-10-2007, 10:02

when i broke down half way down the m5 it was that little bit of plastic on the side which had blown up - literally melted and was smoking, i havnt got a clue what it is, i always thought it was the voltage regulator

16-09-2007, 11:22	#1
skoda_dragon Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Battery Warning Light Last night the battery warning light came on when i turned on the ignition and got brighter as i revved the engine. It won't disappear at all now. It's dim when the engine is idling and is constantly on when i'm driving. I've checked the voltages both when the engine is on & off and its around 13.5V-14V. The battery and alternator are both only a couple of months old and the drive belt is still fairly good condition. Any ideas of the problem?? could it be a faulty alternator? __________________ Skoda_Dragon

16-09-2007, 17:22	#2
rigsby Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: DONCASTER Posts: 1,043 Thanks: 16 Thanked 108 Times in 105 Posts	Re: Battery Warning Light possible regulator fault or warning lamp wire shorting out __________________ I DONT WANT TO DIE A GROWN UP!!!

16-09-2007, 19:34	#3
skoda_dragon Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Battery Warning Light The regulator came with the alternator so its brand new as well. Is it worth buying a new regulator and checking if it resolves the problem? I changed the belt today to see if the situation would improve but no luck. May have to be a garage job if i can't figure it out soon __________________ Skoda_Dragon

17-09-2007, 13:17	#4
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 10,381 Thanks: 56 Thanked 491 Times in 482 Posts	Re: Battery Warning Light New alternators have been known to fail with these sorts of symptoms too. It happened to my dad once.

20-09-2007, 18:17	#5
skoda_dragon Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Battery Warning Light tried a new regulator in the alternator but it hasnt made any difference. I've noticed that the alternator is not straight as well. Looks like it will have to go back to the shop __________________ Skoda_Dragon

22-09-2007, 00:19	#6
skoda_driver Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: sheffield Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Battery Warning Light hi I had the same fault with my felicia. The AA tested my battery and alternator ,I ended up buying a new battery and alternator..

04-10-2007, 19:01	#7
skoda_dragon Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Battery Warning Light I need to send my alternator away for repair and there is something from my old alternator that I had to attach to it and I want to make sure I get it back. Can anybody tell me what it is? I think it's some sort of capacitor or something. (The small white box thing at the top of the pic). Is it also possible to buy a new one or necessary to buy one. thanks in advance __________________ Skoda_Dragon

05-10-2007, 08:55	#8
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 10,381 Thanks: 56 Thanked 491 Times in 482 Posts	Re: Battery Warning Light The markings that I can read on the box are mildly confusing; one seems to be a marking in microfarads, which would be a capacitor rating, but the other shows a circuit diagram of a capacitor in parallel with a diode.

05-10-2007, 09:01	#9
skoda_dragon Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 90 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Battery Warning Light I've spoken to an electrical engineer and he reckons its to stop back emf on the alternator so that it doesn't damage the insulation. I take it not much can go wrong with these in terms of the operation of the alternator so I don't think I will need to buy another one. thanks for the replies __________________ Skoda_Dragon

05-10-2007, 10:02	#10
jeffers Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bridgend Posts: 152 Thanks: 10 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Battery Warning Light when i broke down half way down the m5 it was that little bit of plastic on the side which had blown up - literally melted and was smoking, i havnt got a clue what it is, i always thought it was the voltage regulator

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