Battery Light

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Mon May 24, 2004 12:51 am

My battery light is constantly on all the time now...

This started a few weeks ago, the light was first only coming on at very high revs, then it was coming on at like 3k... and now...

See, i've checked my battery, and it's fully getting charged, at idle when the battery light is on. The voltage is what it's meant to be.

My grounding i think is ok, as i have scraped and cleaned the contacts.

Also my car is running rich, even when it's completely warm, i can smell it, it also sometimes backfires

Any ideas guys?

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Mon May 24, 2004 1:09 am

Does the starter motor kick over alright? Do lights and radio etc. work OK with the engine off?

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Mon May 24, 2004 1:58 am

Everything is in tip top condition. like everything works like normal, the battery doesn't discharge un-normally.... it has decent voltage...

kicks over perfectly...

So, yeah, i'm stumped.

Chiangstar · Post by **Chiangstar** » Mon May 24, 2004 2:00 am

are the water levels in your battery alright?

TimmyD · Post by **TimmyD** » Mon May 24, 2004 2:27 am

thats what my problem was.
my battery light was on all the time and then i topped up the water levels and the light went away

Tim

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Mon May 24, 2004 11:37 am

brand new battery... with water levels full...

When it was flashing at 3k, it was with an old small battery, then when i got a new one, it still continued to flash, but maybe worse. periodically.

For example, it's not a constant flash that was happening, one time it would be off completely except at 6k+ then another times it would be light up at idle and above.

Now it just wount go away. Could this have to do something with my car running rich? Like could the sparkies not be going of correctly leaving excess fuel in the system? By wtf my battery light come on? And isn't that a different electrical system, cos it's running from the battery...

Post by **smorison** » Mon May 24, 2004 6:40 pm

sounds like some other sort of electrical issue to me...

what does the voltmeter say when your running the car???

FYI:
when car is off voltmeter show's battery charge.
when car is running voltmeter shows alternator voltage.

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Mon May 24, 2004 7:03 pm

smorison wrote: when car is off voltmeter show's battery charge.
when car is running voltmeter shows alternator voltage.

Off: 14.7v
Idle: 15.56v (With battery warning light on)
Reving @ 3k: 15.4 (With battery warning light on)

Is there some way the battery light can stay on, just for the hell of of it? like a broken sensor or something? What triggers the battery light? Is there some form of sensor that measures the voltage?

Should I take it to a mechanic?

Post by **smorison** » Mon May 24, 2004 7:18 pm

Boris wrote: Off: 14.7v
Idle: 15.56v (With battery warning light on)
Reving @ 3k: 15.4 (With battery warning light on)

i don't know if it'll do any damage to the battery but your definately overcharging it if its at 15+ volts... not an expert here on what happens... probably best to ask a qualified mechanic about this sounds like your alternator is producing too much power....

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Tue May 25, 2004 1:44 pm

My off figure is incorrect, i didn't know you were sposed to measure atleast an hour after it has been off.

So when it's off, it 12.4v ( overnight )
And the rest of the above figures are correct.

So anyone know if overcharging will trigger the warning light?

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Tue May 25, 2004 3:29 pm

Boris wrote: Off: 14.7v
Idle: 15.56v (With battery warning light on)
Reving @ 3k: 15.4 (With battery warning light on)

I had the similar high reading before my alternator was "gone", so maybe you should get your alternator check.

Post by **smorison** » Tue May 25, 2004 4:12 pm

FTO338 wrote:
I had the similar high reading before my alternator was "gone", so maybe you should get your alternator check.

yeah my initial thought was the alternator as well

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Wed May 26, 2004 4:15 pm

FTO338 wrote:I had the similar high reading before my alternator was "gone", so maybe you should get your alternator check.

Yes, you are right.
This is what is happening.

So with your alternator do you know how long you were driving on an overcharging battery, before the alternator spat a dummy?

Also, did your battery warning light come on?

I got told not to drive my car as it could blow electrical components, such as the ECU.... I already blew one of my PIAA bulbs

My car goes in on monday... to get repaired...

Nickname · Post by **Nickname** » Wed May 26, 2004 4:41 pm

Boris.... can you post up what's wrong with your car, how did thay fix and how much is it, coz my car got similar problem as well, but not worest as yours atm. thanks

Post by **smorison** » Wed May 26, 2004 4:48 pm

Nickname wrote:Boris.... can you post up what's wrong with your car, how did thay fix and how much is it, coz my car got similar problem as well, but not worest as yours atm. thanks

just spoke with Unique they said its cheapest to get it reco'd as a new one will be "mega bucks" they've got a guy who has done several of these for some of our members in the past and depending on how bad the condition is the cost of a reco could be anywhere from $200 - $600.00 (full reco) a new unit would cost you a few grand...

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Wed May 26, 2004 5:27 pm

Boris did you get a full mechanical before you bought this car, and if so by who?

Did you end up taking the extended warranty and is the dealer fixing it for free?

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Wed May 26, 2004 6:03 pm

Boris wrote:
Yes, you are right.
This is what is happening.

So with your alternator do you know how long you were driving on an overcharging battery, before the alternator spat a dummy?

Also, did your battery warning light come on?

I got told not to drive my car as it could blow electrical components, such as the ECU.... I already blew one of my PIAA bulbs

My car goes in on monday... to get repaired...

Hmmm around 2wks, & then its gone, & yeah the battery light come on after a while.

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Wed May 26, 2004 6:20 pm

Thanks for the reply guys.

I'l let you know what happens, it will probably get reconditioned.
But it's strange though, cos the outside, and the outside coils of the alternator look brand new. Would anyone just replace the outside coils and leave the inside stuff alone? Hmm.

Ruchi, Yes, The car got a mechanical inspection, I got 3yrs warranty with it, I rang them and this should be covered them...

Nickname, what's your condition like? Does the warning light flash at high rpm?

Hmm, I think I better just leave the car in the garage and start getting fit by riding me push bike again

Atleast I learn stuff about the alternator from this.

Nickname · Post by **Nickname** » Sat May 29, 2004 11:00 am

My condition not bad as you, but the battery light comes up a little(not fully light up) when it's idealing. Once my car is traveling, it's goes off.
But I look at the voltage meter when I driving, it charge up to 15V.........
And there is 1 funny point is......... when my car is idealing, light come up a bit, but after I turn on the head light, it goes off !!

payaya · Post by **payaya** » Sat May 29, 2004 11:30 am

isnt there a power regulator somewhere?

also how do you know your car is running rich? is it doesnt it just during warmup or all the time?