Charging problems.

[TONY44]

Hi all.

Was coming home last night and all the dash warning lights came on, carried on going as I was on a motorway and turned off at the next exit.

Realised that my lights were going dim and eventually even the radio went off. Battery dead.

I did leave it running to charge my phone, RAC man arrived, switched it off and to our surprise, it started fine, but he tested the battery, and it had 10.2 in it, revved it up and went up to 10.6.

He said that it was charging, but not enough. (for lights etc)

Does anybody know if this is a common fault of some sort? or something else maybe? or do I just need a new alternator.

Thank you in advance.

[grcore]

Sounds like an alternator.

[krollie]

yes, sounds like an altenator, but....

if your battery is really gone bad it can take down the voltage also.

take the battery out of the car and try charge the battery with a charger, after a few hours stop charging, measure the voltage and after an hour again.

if the voltage drops ( not by a tenth but whole voltages) then the battery is really bad and probably not the altenator.

you can also take a battery from your neighbour and put that in your car and measure the voltage then if the car runs, if its low again like you said, the your altenator is gone bad. if its about 14-14,5volts its ok

sorry for my bad english but i hope you got some answers

good luck

[Blogson]

Did the RAC person test the voltage at the battery terminals while the engine was running and revved up? If so and the voltage was only 10.6 the problem most likely is the alternator and/or the voltage regulator.

[marbillw]

Have the batt. load tested. My 2007 had the same problems and worse. All dash lights blink off and on, steering acting up ( electric power steering ). ENGINE SHUTOFF Got jump started, went a few ft. and stoped again. Wife finaly made it home. Shut off and then wouldn't start. Checked the batt, showed 12 volts but no amps. I never had a vehicle act like this with a dead batt. Put a new one in, presto everything back to normal. Batt had a dead short in one cell. Well known problems of junk batt's.

[TONY44]

As an update, I managed to get a meter onto the alternator, and the reading I was getting was 10.25 at tickover, and 10.65 when revved, so I take it that the alternator is the problem.

[Carbon]

How are you getting the car started? Are you charging the battery with a charger first? How is your voltage at the end of the charge with the engine not running? If it is 13.6 or more, then the alternator is probably the problem. If it is under 11, then the problem may be an unusual problem with the battery or the voltmeter you are using. Make sure the voltmeter is set for DC and not AC.

[TONY44]

Originally Posted by Carbon

How are you getting the car started? Are you charging the battery with a charger first? How is your voltage at the end of the charge with the engine not running? If it is 13.6 or more, then the alternator is probably the problem. If it is under 11, then the problem may be an unusual problem with the battery or the voltmeter you are using. Make sure the voltmeter is set for DC and not AC.

I am starting the car with jumpleads, the battery is only about three weeks old, I checked the meter against my hilux, and get (if I remember correctly) 12. something at idle and nearly 15 when revved.

I have just taken the battery out and is on charge now.

The new battery was fitted when it was serviced for the warranty, along with a new timing belt and water pump, only thing that is a bit strange though is that the battery only cost £44, so thought it was a crap make, but it is an Exide one.

[Snyrav4]

Connecting a DC voltmeter to the battery terminals 'should' normally show around 12V with the engine off and 13-15V with the engine running. (above idle) A 12V or lower reading when running indicates a 'not-charging' issue. The alternator being the usual suspect.