Battery Light (RED) *Updated* - Final Stage!!!

yoshiba · Post by **yoshiba** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:13 pm

Hi guys,

I'm having problems with my car.

Suddenly today I noticed a red light on my battery icon shown below:

Can you guys please assist me and tell me what exactly is wrong?

The only additional info I can give is... I did a voltage reading on my battery and its 12.16 on average. In-cabin (while the car is idling), I can see the needle indicator showing under 12:

Could it also be the alternator? belts? wiring? voltage regulator?

**Also is it still safe to drive the car? If yes, for how long?**

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks guys,

Paul

Post by **I8A4RE** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:51 pm

Mate, sounds like your alternator. They are a common problem with the FTO. You can drive it but it means that your battery isnt get its fulll charge therefore you COULD get stuck somewhere. What you got a gr or gpx?

I have a spare gr alternator or you could take your one somewhere to get reconditioned

lwrida · Post by **lwrida** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:13 pm

Could be your alternator belt.

Mine was doing the same thing on Friday found the belt missing.

Pop your bonnet and look on the drivers side of your engine to see if any belts are missing.

Post by **I8A4RE** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:51 pm

if his belt was missing i dont think he would be getting charge when he revs it ova 4k. i could be wrong

lwrida · Post by **lwrida** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:10 am

Just read the other thread, not the belt

yoshiba · Post by **yoshiba** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:29 am

Thanks for your replies Simon & lwrida (Christo?)

Simon,

I have a GPX and thanks for the offer man. It looks like I might have to get it reconditioned for sure.

I do find it strange that while the car is idling the battery icon does light up...however, when I rev it pass 4k the light disappears. I think it might be showing signs that both the alternator and battery are slowly dying in the ass. Like a symptom pretty much...

Lwrida,

I'll check my belts tomorrow and let you know man. I'm seriously thinking it all the components - battery + belt + alternator & also when reving I do experience a weird whining sound...

Post by **I8A4RE** » Tue May 13, 2008 10:52 am

Yep thats the alternator. Yeah if its charging when you rev the engine hard it means that the alternator is on its way out...... its just not completely F%^ked yet

yoshiba · Post by **yoshiba** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:58 pm

Ahhh dammit...

Thanks for the help Simon.

yoshiba · Post by **yoshiba** » Tue May 13, 2008 9:41 pm

Just an update guys...

I spoke with an Auto Electric Mech-Technician (however you say it - based in Canley Vale) over the phone and basically he has quoted me $180 for a reconditioned fto 4-pin alternator.

The catch is, I have to surrender my almost f&%ked alternator for the reconditioned one which includes 6 months warranty.

So what do you guys think???

I'm also going to buy 2 new belts - alt & ps/ac from JoeJoe's recommended autoshop in Canley (near blue-heaven).

Would there be anything else I should watch out for...both Alt-Belt & ac/ps tensioner wheel??...I have checked the ac/ps tensioner wheel and its rusty like a mofo!

Also how tight do both belts have to be? I'm looking at the following site as reference:

http://www.mitsubishi-fto.org/workshop/ ... index.html

Thanks again

Paul

Post by **I8A4RE** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:11 pm

Mate thats an awesome price. Keep there details, a lot of ppl will want that info. sh*t for that price ill send mine down.

Post by **I8A4RE** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:17 pm

thats a bloody good DIY, just follow that. Check to see if the ac/ps tensioner spins freely spray some wd40 on it. But i wouldnt worry about it too much as long as it spins freely

yoshiba · Post by **yoshiba** » Wed May 14, 2008 12:54 am

Awesome...

I'll see how things go!

Post by **Bennoz** » Wed May 14, 2008 8:28 am

I8A4RE wrote:thats a bloody good DIY, just follow that. Check to see if the ac/ps tensioner spins freely spray some wd40 on it. But i wouldnt worry about it too much as long as it spins freely

For gods sake, dont spray WD40 on it... Its a grease packed bearing, WD40 will erode that grease & cause it to wear out twice as fast. Pull it off & with a grease gun, try & repack it.

Post by **I8A4RE** » Wed May 14, 2008 5:21 pm

i said check to see if it spins freely, if it doesnt then the bearing has most probably lost all its grease anyway or is seized in which case its F^&KED already so it aint going to make it worse

ps im pretty sure they are alos a sealed unit and theres no way your gonna get grease in there

Post by **Bennoz** » Wed May 14, 2008 5:42 pm

No! Dont put WD40 anywhere near any belts! If you wanna see if it spins freely, pull the bloody belt off & turn it by hand. Not only does WD40 wash grease out of bearings, if you get any of it on the belts themselves, it instantly begins to petrify the rubber in them, soon enough they'll develop cracks & bingo - you've just halved your belt life. And if its a sealed unit wise guy, then why does WD40 get in & wash out the grease? While they dont pull apart, you can repack them, I did one on DIY day.

1 all big boy. How do you like them apples

sublime19 · Post by **sublime19** » Wed May 14, 2008 5:55 pm

sublime19 · Post by **sublime19** » Wed May 14, 2008 6:02 pm

So basically never use WD40 or even bring it anywhere near the engine bay? Cos in the past my belt was squeeking and I sprayed some on it and then it was fine (Not saying your wrong lol just asking, i dunno jack sh*t compared to u really)

Post by **I8A4RE** » Wed May 14, 2008 6:16 pm

sublime19 wrote:So basically never use WD40 or even bring it anywhere near the engine bay? Cos in the past my belt was squeeking and I sprayed some on it and then it was fine (Not saying your wrong lol just asking, i dunno jack sh*t compared to you really)

so you just put up that pic then asked that question and whos owned

haha, no you can use it on lots of parts on an engine.
@ ben, thats what i mean check it with your hand........ not check it wd40

Thats the whole beauty od wd40, it gets were your hands cant

But hey if you say you can repack'em i believe you, i have never even looked at one closely. BUT what i am saying is that you can and i have used wd40 on semi seized bearings and made them sweet as pie and they have lasted without ever having a problem. Also the belts have to come into some significant sort of contact to putrify the belts, a lot for a long period. a simple spray aint going to do sh*t and to prove it....... if i have to,ill spray some on mine at the next FTO meet a see how long it takes before i need to replace it.

ps your apples are lovely this time of yr and ill give you a half for that

Simon = 1
Ben = .5

Post by **Bennoz** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:54 pm

So your splitting apples now? Figures, cause your good at splitting hairs

Post by **I8A4RE** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:55 pm

Bennoz wrote:So your splitting apples now? Figures, cause your good at splitting hairs

lmao

FTO AUSTRALIA

Battery Light (RED) Updated - Final Stage!!!

Battery Light (RED) Updated - Final Stage!!!