Happy fathers day - Battery warning light

Mid-life-crisis · Jun 17, 2023

2002 L322 diesel

So, happy fathers day. An early gift of a battery warning light that came on this morning, went off after 5 min and then came on and stayed on.
After about 5 starts she's refusing to turn over - just that horribleclickk when I turn the key.

The battery voltage at that point was 9.2v so I disconnected the battery and after a 4 hour charge (with a ctek) it's now 12.5v

It's a 95Ah battery

So, battery or alternator?

kermit_rr · Jun 18, 2023

Put the battery on charger overnight, then start the car. What voltage does it show at idle and 2000rpm? Leave it 5 mins running at idle and check again

Rubberknees · Jun 18, 2023

My fathers day present was to find I'm going to be a grandad at long last. Little boy due at Christmas :dance:

brianp38dse · Jun 18, 2023

Mid-life-crisis said:
2002 L322 diesel

So, happy fathers day. An early gift of a battery warning light that came on this morning, went off after 5 min and then came on and stayed on.
After about 5 starts she's refusing to turn over - just that horribleclickk when I turn the key.

The battery voltage at that point was 9.2v so I disconnected the battery and after a 4 hour charge (with a ctek) it's now 12.5v

It's a 95Ah battery

So, battery or alternator?

Once battery is charged over night disconnect and leave for an hour then test voltage, and when on car at 2000rpm have the heater and all the lights on to check voltage.

Datatek · Jun 18, 2023

Mid-life-crisis said:
2002 L322 diesel

So, happy fathers day. An early gift of a battery warning light that came on this morning, went off after 5 min and then came on and stayed on.
After about 5 starts she's refusing to turn over - just that horribleclickk when I turn the key.

The battery voltage at that point was 9.2v so I disconnected the battery and after a 4 hour charge (with a ctek) it's now 12.5v

It's a 95Ah battery

So, battery or alternator?

If the battery light stays on, it's deffo the alternator or a bad connection.

pete12345 · Jun 18, 2023

Congrats rubberknees you will have to sell the car to afford grandson

Mid-life-crisis · Jun 18, 2023

Here's the data so far

Battery fully charged and not reconnected to cat 13.34v
Battery connected to car ignition off 13.1v
Ignition on but car not started 12.4v
Engine started and idling 14.0v
Engine at 2000rpm 14.1v
Engine idling for 5min 12.7v
Engine idling and lots of load (heaters, lights, you name it) 11.8v - 12.0v
Engine at 2000rpm and lots of load 11.8v - 12.0v
Ignition off 12.7v

What's the diagnosis (except March was a good month for some)?

freelance · Jun 18, 2023

I don’t think 95ah battery is man enough!

stemac33 · Jun 18, 2023

Bet the cat wasn't to pleased having a battery connected to it.

Mid-life-crisis · Jun 18, 2023

Mark Piercy · Jun 18, 2023

Mid-life-crisis said:
Here's the data so far

Battery fully charged and not reconnected to cat 13.34v
Battery connected to car ignition off 13.1v
Ignition on but car not started 12.4v
Engine started and idling 14.0v
Engine at 2000rpm 14.1v
Engine idling for 5min 12.7v
Engine idling and lots of load (heaters, lights, you name it) 11.8v - 12.0v
Engine at 2000rpm and lots of load 11.8v - 12.0v
Ignition off 12.7v

What's the diagnosis (except March was a good month for some)?

You should be seeing around 13v fully load with all accessories at 2000rpm.

brianp38dse · Jun 18, 2023

Start with a new battery mf31 will fit its tight but fits, the voltage drop with ignition on is mot good at 12.4v which could be battery goosed.

Datatek · Jun 18, 2023

Mid-life-crisis said:
Here's the data so far

Battery fully charged and not reconnected to cat 13.34v
Battery connected to car ignition off 13.1v
Ignition on but car not started 12.4v
Engine started and idling 14.0v
Engine at 2000rpm 14.1v
Engine idling for 5min 12.7v
Engine idling and lots of load (heaters, lights, you name it) 11.8v - 12.0v
Engine at 2000rpm and lots of load 11.8v - 12.0v
Ignition off 12.7v

What's the diagnosis (except March was a good month for some)?

As I said, alternator on it's way out or a bad connection.

Datatek · Jun 18, 2023

freelance said:
I don’t think 95ah battery is man enough!

The battery, unless it's completely fecked, is not relevant, it's the alternator that provides the power to run the electronics once the engine is running..

Datatek · Jun 18, 2023

brianp38dse said:
Start with a new battery mf31 will fit its tight but fits, the voltage drop with ignition on is mot good at 12.4v which could be battery goosed.

The MF31-1000 from Battery Megastore on line is the one to get IMO..

Mid-life-crisis · Jun 18, 2023

Aaaah, so it's the battery or the alternator or a bad connection.
I'll have a poke about tomorrow and let you know

Mid-life-crisis · Jun 20, 2023

Connections all look and feel tight.
It's the alternator I think
Some kind salvage gentlemen are sending me a replacement.

Manual says
Belt off
PAS pump unmounted and pushed to the side
Alternator pulley off
Alternator off

Is that about right?

One question, how do I get the Alternator pulley off if there's no belt to keep the Alternator from turning. I'm not leaning towards jamming the Alternator using the cooling fins!

Datatek · Jun 21, 2023

Mid-life-crisis said:
Connections all look and feel tight.
It's the alternator I think
Some kind salvage gentlemen are sending me a replacement.

Manual says
Belt off
PAS pump unmounted and pushed to the side
Alternator pulley off
Alternator off

Is that about right?

One question, how do I get the Alternator pulley off if there's no belt to keep the Alternator from turning. I'm not leaning towards jamming the Alternator using the cooling fins!

A second hand spare should come with the pulley, otherwise one of the oil filter type straps round the pulley.

badfluffy · Jun 21, 2023

Mid-life-crisis said:
Connections all look and feel tight.
It's the alternator I think
Some kind salvage gentlemen are sending me a replacement.

Manual says
Belt off
PAS pump unmounted and pushed to the side
Alternator pulley off
Alternator off

Is that about right?

One question, how do I get the Alternator pulley off if there's no belt to keep the Alternator from turning. I'm not leaning towards jamming the Alternator using the cooling fins!

the manual missed out about the struggle to get the alternator off its mounting and out of the engine bay past all the other bits in the way

Mid-life-crisis · Jun 29, 2023

Yep, it missed that bit out nicely, and it also missed out the bit about needing many hands to get the belt back on again and making sure not to trap the belt behind the idler pulley bracket so having to take it off again

Alternator it was - fixed now

Happy fathers day - Battery warning light

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