"battery charge fault" driving me nuts

[millard]

I bought the car a month or so back now, a 1999 2.0l HDi110 Excecutive. Ran fine for a week then the battery charge fault came up.
Put a meter accross the alternator, didn't show much so got a used one from an ebay breaker.
Whilst I was at it I replaced cambelt, water pump, aux belt.
Put it back together, fault still there. Put in a heavy duty battery this morning, reset the BSI - fault still there.
Called the breaker who supplied the alternator and he promised he would replace it if I wanted to, but assured me the fault must lie somewhere else as he specifically remembered testing it.
Tearing me hair out now, any ideas as to what what else could cause this please fellas?

Thanks in advance.
millard

[Captain Jack]

Is the battery actually charging:- i.e. does it drain quickly?

Does the new alternator have any output across its terminals when running? Should be 14.4v at both the alternator and the battery end. If they are different, it could be a wiring fault between the alternator and the battery. Have you checked this?

[karlosantana]

Sounds like a possible earth leak. Try checking to see the Resitance between + & - with the battery off (its the ohms symbol on your multimeter). After that make sure your deffinatly getting a charge through you alternator, you've changed your battery.

If the resistance shows as none on the multimeter, most likely you've got water crossing 2 terminals, seen it before...git to find. Keep us posted
Cheers
KYle

[millard]

Jack /Karlos
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I went out to the car today to take some readings with the volt meter and lo and behold it's decided that it's no longer got a fault
Dunno why or what would make it change it's mind when I've done nothing to it since starting it up the other day and getting the fault sign, but I put on everything electrical I could- heated seats, A/C, wipers, fogs, main beam, indicators, brake lights and fiddled with the lecky seats, all on tickover and no sign of a charging fault
cheers guys
millard

[david673]

Hi,
Just had a nightmare of a trip to the West Midlands with my 406 hdi X reg. Prior to leaving on Friday i fitted a new battery.
On Saturday evening in heavy snow with the temp at -4 the battery charge fault kept flashing on and off. When ever it did the interior fan would cut out. After 10 mins a burning smell then smoke from under the bonnet. Managed to limp to a relatives to find smoke coming out of the alternator.
Sunday morning with the temp at -9, managed to purchase a new alternator and get it fitted, car started fine and no smoke or burning. However the "battery charge fault" was still lit, and the interior fan and rear windscreen heater wouldn't work!
Drove to my mums in Warwickshire and checked the blower fuses all intact.
This morning the temp was -12 and dreading the drive back to Dorset in such temperatures looked at the fuses again, found one. which stated it was a"battery fault" 5 amp fuse. I pulled this out and the blower and rear heater sprung in to life! The warning light also went out. However now the windscreen wipers and central locking didn't work!!! So with the engine running i put the 5 amp fuse back in and everything worked. However as soon as i stop the engine and switch back on the dreaded "battery charge fault" illuminates and no blower and no rear heater. So i have to pull the fuse then put it back in again.
Does anyone have any ideas, or am i going to have to perform this ritual for the rest of my 406 ownership?

David

[teamster1975]

Welcome David!
It's very possible the Bsi has got its knickers in a twist which can happen when the battery is disconnected.
Have a look in the knowledgebase, there's an article on resetting it

Edit: Here it is
In the future start your own thread; you'll get a lot more feedback!

[david673]

Thanks for the advice, however it didn't work, battery fault charge still proudly displaying itself!