irratical dials an batterry light

[afk40]

Hi Guys,, am needing help yet again... my pug 406 hdi 90 horse, something is wrong, my wife said she was driving an the batterry light came on,, an when she was parking it she saw a puff of smoke in the engine bay area under the bonnet,,, so i checked today all the wiring plugs , an it all seems in order,,, so i started it, an the battery light came on an on the on board comp, it said,, battery not charging.... then the lights on the dash all started to flash irratically,, i tried to rev it, an it revved to 3k then the needle was hesitant to return to 0... then the mileometre started flashing irraticaly...

does anyone know what could be wrong.. a neighbour said to me it could be the alternator not giving out the right power an its mixing up the brain,an it doesnt know how to react...? looking in ma battery theres a wee window to say tits good with a green lighht showing.. but right now theres no Green light,, looking in the wee cirle window, it looks like the lights off, its dark no green..so am thinkin the batt may be goosed...where do i go from here.. ive only had the car 2 days.......??? thanks.. afk

[DiscoPol]

Hi afk,

have you had a look to see if the battery is topped up, dont know if your battery is the same but i had something similar with an old car of mine, and the little window was on the top of the battery and if the fluid inside started to drop the small green float dropped down and it showed black, now i know most car batteries (sic) these days are maintenance free, but i just opened up each cell and topped up with de-ionised water to the right mark and it lasted me another 18 months like that,

but please remember this goes against all the advice on the warning labels on most batteries these days, so only do it if your happy messing about with some serious acids, and please please wear some form of protection over your eyes and hands, that stuff is evil

alternatively go to one of the "fast fit" places most of them do a free battery check, but be aware they will try and flog u a fresh one if yours is goosed.

[afk40]

thanks polskipug,,, I now seem to have another problem connecting itself with this one i think,,,
IT WONT START NOW,, its turning over no problem,, ave had jump leads on it , Ive tried bleeding it to see if its getting juice an it is... undone an injector an everythng seems fine so its gettin diesel, i really think its electrical... my wife said she saw a puff of smoke commin from the engine when this first happened last nite.. so am now thinkin their maybe a short somewhere, hence the puff...but theres been nothin since, ive given all the wires a good shake,, ive checked all the big fuses in the fuse box everythijgs got power,, it may be simple,, an i just cant see it,, or it may be hard,, a bummer as thats gonna cost money.I really need the car,, any help appreicated.. ive just forked out on th ecar two days ago an taxed it yesterday 112 squid,, so am kinda rookedit does feel like its been staved of fuel, but theres definatley fuel; in it,, so am now thinkin electrical....they blinkin gremlins..............cheers Guys

[afk40]

guys,, i have had a Diagnostic guy out an he knows whit hes doin, but its comming up wi fault codes 1517 and 1280 he says the two codes are really the same as he used various bits o computer stuff... he thinks that the key has lost its code .. fur some inknown reason, like maybe a surge fromn the alternator, but as it goes,, i now need the key programmed who do i look for for this , has anyone got any local guys to me in scotland.. Near Glasgow,, i take it they would need to come out an see the car.. again any help with this would be appreciated.. thanks. afk

[FarmerPug]

a clio once gave me the same sort of trouble, the car wouldnt go faster than 30mph and it wouldnt rev, the dials all went up and down and lights flashed, the solution was simply taking the battery out leaving it out for an hour and then putting a brand new one in, a new battery could be the solution and if it isnt keep the reciept and return it to the shop if you dont need it