Batter light and charging problems - Rangie

[McDisco]

Hey All

The Rangie developed another problem today. Jumped in this morning to head to work (took the rangie as I had to get a simex reseated) and the battery light was on and stayed on when I started it up. It seems to go away when the engine is revving well but come back on at idle or when the revs drop.

Got to work and when I went to head out at lunch it started fine and everything, but after work it was sluggish to start and wouldn’t start again at the tyre place. Had to get a jump start. Now on the way home voltage must have been dropping cause power just disappeared and it wouldn’t rev at all. Could barely get about 40! I thought it had slipped a liner or something :eek:

I made the mistake of thinking it may be an issue with the gas and tried turned it over to petrol and…she just died. I had to get the girlfriend to come out and give me a jump start in the disco. After a bit of juice from the disco it revved fine, but the battery light is on.

Now Im thinking cause the battery light went on and off that the alternator is charging ok, but that I have a short somewhere. This would explain why it drained the battery so quickly. I checked the batter at lunch and it indicated fine, but by the arvo it was dead.

Any ideas? Any tips on how I would diagnose the problem?

Angus

[Blknight.aus]

it could just be a dogey connection on the back of the alternator or its got a stuck bush in it thats not making reliable contact with the slip rings.

[big guy]

Sounds like the battery has dropped a cell.

[harlie]

I'd agree with Dave. Have the alternator checked, to me it sounds like there has not been enough charge getting back into the battery, if the battery drops a cell after the car has started and the alt is still good (in my experience) the engine will still run, just will not restart once stopped- and you would see that the first time, but if the battery is getting lower (ie draining as you drive) due to not having enough charge the (petrol) engine will eventually give up because there’s nothing to run the spark. Don't trust the Batt light entirely.


If you can get it started after a recharge (or jump) check the voltage while the engine is running. If the battery will not recharge (or it shows open circuit with a MM) then I’m wrong and look at the Battery…

[McDisco]

Hey All

Thanks for the replies. Turns out it was the alternator. Swapped it out and everything is sweet!

Angus