battery charge fault

[delvey]

Had this happen about a week ago. Battery light comes on then get the warning battery charge fault. High revs make it disappear. Disappeared after a short drive. So friday I'm driving home from work and the same thing happens. This time however it does not go off when revving high. So I make it home. Tried this morning round the block. Comes on at startup. Drive round the block and seems ok. So grap the other half to go shopping and half way there comes on. Will go off on really high revs (3k plus) but stayed on again. Is the alternator on the way out? Haven't tested the battery with a multimeter as not got one.

[lozz]

Hi,
iwouid have the Battey checked, Winter time seems to kill battery's.
Any battery supplier normaly does a free test,

[Busman]

Possibley the battery, but I would be looking more at the alternator.

[hammerman]

I had this 2 yrs ago.The battery warning light would come after starting & the display would say something like lowbattery charge.It would go out after a mile or 2.This went on for a month or 2 untill we had the cold & snow in jan `11.I left for work mon morn,drove 125 miles to Devon.Left work at 6pm,-10,very cold,to go 8 miles to the caravan,and the battery light was on.Within 2 miles the heater went off & the head lights dimmed.By the time a got back to the caravan the car was dead.Jump started it,but there was no voltage charging up the battery.
Had the car recovered to our plant workshop,they took the alternator to a guy they use for all our diggers etc.The bill was around £90 inc labour to fix/recon the alternator.Its been fine ever since.The car is will be 10 yrs old this sept,174k miles,& its still on the original battery!!

[hammerman]

Also,before it broke down,i was checking the battery charge with the warning light on with my multi meter but was still showing 14volts+ plus at the battery,so it was still charging.

[delvey]

Thanks. Other half had the battery checked. Was showing under 13v while engine was running.
Will have to get a new alternator me thinks

[delvey]

Forgot to add, they also said it was over charging. Am I right in thinking the regulator is within the alternator?

[jasper5]

Forgot to add, they also said it was over charging. Am I right in thinking the regulator is within the alternator?

The regulator is built into the alternator, yes.

Overcharging would mean a reading of 15 volts or more, sounds contradictory if the reading was less than 13 volts.

[delvey]

Might have been the other half getting the numbers wrong

[jasper5]

I have access to alternator testing and supply of new and recon units if you have any problems.

I think we are in a similar area.

[delvey]

Great. Im in manchester and can get anywhere round the greater Manchester area.

[jasper5]

I'm in East Lancashire, so not very far away, give us a shout if you need help.

[delvey]

So bought a new alternator and still have the problem. Will get a new battery tomorrow but is there anything else I should check?

[lozz]

The old d9 ihad used to throw up a battery charge fault,
there was nothing wrong with it charging the battery wise,

turned out it was the Handbrake switch, idisconected it and the fault went away,

[delvey]

Interesting. When I first started the car it said handbrake on, which I have never had before. Not come on since
Didn't realise there was a set procedure for disconnecting and connecting the battery. Should I try a bsi reset?