Jump to content


Battery Light keeps Coming On


tmwsccsh
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi all,

Firstly, apologies that this is going to be a long post.

A few months ago I had problems with alternator and starter motor issues.  All was resolved when a new positive power cable from the battery to starter motor and replacement alternator was fitted at the end of July.

Well, about 6 weeks later and I am experiencing the dreaded battery light again. Symptoms are that occasionally after about 1 minute of being started, the battery light comes on. Power off, lock, unlock, start up again and all is fine until the next time it occurs. But it's annoying and makes me wonder if something more sinister is lurking there. I have noticed that if I turn the key to the position where all the dash goes live and leave it there for about 15 seconds then start the chances of the battery light coming on decrease greatly, but this is not guaranteed.

So far I have changed:-
Alternator
- Starter Motor
Positive Battery Cable

The battery was not swapped but has been tested three times as fine. 

However, tonight it was worse than usual...

5:35pm - got into car to come home from work. Started up and let it run for a minute, no battery light came on, headed home.

6:05pm - arrived home.

6:15pm - had to go out. Started car with no AC on, left it for a minute, battery light came on. Switched off, locked, waited 10 seconds, unlocked, started with no AC on, left it for a minute, battery light came on. Switched off, locked, waited 10 seconds, unlocked, started with no AC on, left it for a minute, battery light came on. Whilst the light was on I read the voltage from the battery - 14.31v. Seems normal to me. So, switched off, locked, waited 10 seconds, unlocked, started with no AC on, left it for a minute, battery light came on. Switched off, locked, waited 10 seconds, unlocked, started with no AC on, left it for a minute, battery didn't come on, so off I went. Turned AC on. About 10 seconds later, battery light came on. Pulled over at a safe point, switched off, locked, waited 10 seconds, unlocked, started with AC on, and carried on the journey. No more battery light - yay!

6:30pm - finally arrived local Sainsburys. Car turned off.

6:40pm - left Sainsburys. Started with no AC on, left it for a minute, battery light came on. Switched off, locked, waited 10 seconds, unlocked, started with no AC on, left it for a minute, battery light came on. Lost interest, started it up and drove off. About a minute into the journey, battery light came on. Switched off, locked, waited 10 seconds, unlocked, started with AC on, left it for a minute, battery light came on. Pulled over at a safe point, switched off, locked, waited 10 seconds, unlocked, started with AC on, and carried on the journey. About a minute later, battery light came on. Pulled over at a safe point, switched off, locked, waited 10 seconds, unlocked, started with AC on, and carried on the journey. About a minute later, battery light came on. At this point I didn't care as I was 20 seconds from home so just pulled onto the driveway and turned him off for the night.

I am fairly confident that tomorrow morning when it's time to go to work I will have no problems.

I have also noticed that once he gets going with the light not coming on, that's it - it stays of until the next shut off and maybe the problem comes back when I try to start again. Did 150 miles on Monday night after the light had come on 3 times trying to start after a quick stop off somewhere with no more repeats.

Someone has suggested there may be a sensor or similar on the alternator that could be causing the issue - can anyone identify where this is so I can check it out?

One more final bit of information that has hit me. When the original alternator failed over a year ago, the recovery guy suggested that the battery was also fried and would need replacing as well, however at the depot (had to change trailers) on the way back his boss had a look and said that he thought it would be Ok. This is the same battery that has now been on 2x failed alternators in the last 18 months or so. Is it possible that this simply is a battery problem? It has been checked but you never know, especially as it is getting worse.

It's just getting annoying now - I don't know if I trust the information that the batterylight is giving me based on all this. Also means I don't have a lot of trust in the car at the moment which isn't good - just wonder if it is going to let me down at some point...

Thanks in advance all and sorry for the long post.

Regards, 

Tim Watts

Link to comment
Share on other sites


hi

You need a multi meter and test what voltage you have there, no point guessing

You should have over 12volts at all times, more towards the 12.5 volts with engine off

with engine running it should be over 14 volts ideally 14volts to 14.5 volts, if it drops below 13.5volts running alternators it faulty, below 12.5 volts alternator fried

most alternators have brushes in them that connect to the armature, varying the voltage on the armature alters the alternator output, so as the brushes start to fail, alternator output current can fluctuate intermittent, until they fail all together, usual symptoms lights when on, lights brightness can flicker or fluctuate

you need to check the voltage on the battery and see what you get, if you get 14.5 volts and the battery light is on, then the fault could be elsewhere

also you can put the dash in diagnostic mode and monitor what voltage the battery is, but recommend using a multi meter first on the actual battery

cheers

Joe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, have done a few journeys today with the TEST mode activated so I can monitor the battery voltage.

Typically, no battery light today and I have now done 4x trips...

But, pattern seen thus far is, start up and there's around 14.2v (fluctuating slightly) and after about 3 minutes, this drops to around 12.4v (again fluctuating) where it stays for the remainder of the journey - from other postings I have read I believe this is normal but could be wrong?

Will see what happens on the return from work and other trips over the weekend...

TMW

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi

12.4 volts with engine running is too low,

check that your alternator is charging, as it sound like it is, because you said you had 14.3 volts at the battery

you need to check agaim when the fault is on and see what the voltage is on the dash and the battery with a multimeter, just to confirm the battery is charging, but for some reason the car electronic only thinks its see a lower voltage

which would lead me think, you either have a bad connection somewhere, or a bad earth give a low voltage on a control unit,

cheers

Joe

Link to comment
Share on other sites


On 9/18/2017 at 8:13 PM, JOE-DOT-COM said:

Hi

12.4 volts with engine running is too low,

check that your alternator is charging, as it sound like it is, because you said you had 14.3 volts at the battery

you need to check agaim when the fault is on and see what the voltage is on the dash and the battery with a multimeter, just to confirm the battery is charging, but for some reason the car electronic only thinks its see a lower voltage

which would lead me think, you either have a bad connection somewhere, or a bad earth give a low voltage on a control unit,

cheers

Joe

He died yesterday :(

Recovery guy came out - battery effed.  Was only holding 2% charge from their testing gizmo.

Recovered to home, battery proof of purchase found, returned to place of purchase and swapped, but I paid the difference to upgrade to a higher-spec one.

All good last night, let's see what the weekend brings...

TMW

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • 5 years later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share





  • Join The Club

    Join the Jaguar Owners Club and be part of the Community. It's FREE!

     

  • Topics

  • Our picks

    • Simply Jaguar show at Beaulieu - Sunday 23rd June 2024
      Jaguar Owners Club have a stand at this year's Simply Jaguar event at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire on Sunday 23rd June 2024

      Tickets are available online here: https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-jaguar/
        • Like
      • 7 replies
    • Post in Event Ludlow Racecourse Shropshire 16th June 2024
      Not long now to Ludlow. It sold out before the event last year it is very popular.

      To book a ticket in advance go to EVENTBRITE or Message me. 

       

       
    • JAGUAR’S LAST PETROL SPORTS CAR: F-TYPE ZP EDITION TAKES THE CHEQUERED FLAG
      Jaguar is commemorating the end of its internal combustion sports car lineage in 2024 with an exclusive limited-edition F-TYPE inspired by two iconic 1960s racing E-types

      Just 150 examples of the F-TYPE ZP Edition will be the last internal combustion-engined sports cars designed by Jaguar. These 575PS supercharged petrol V8 F-TYPEs feature specially curated interior and exterior details by the personalisation experts at SV Bespoke.
        • Like
    • UPDATE SHOW INFORMATION !

      Please find attached your club label – please can this be distributed amongst your club members prior to the event. Please ensure that they print this label and display it in their windscreen upon entry to the event, this ensures that all members wishing to park within your club area are directed to the correct parking location by our stewards. Please do not modify or add logos to the club label.

      We do ask that all individuals have purchased their tickets on an individual basis in advance via our website, to speed up the entry process on the day. This can be done on our website here until 2pm on the day when admission closes: https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-jaguar.

      Note that we do have two entrances available, one is exhibitors gate at the bottom of the hill as you come in to Beaulieu, with the other being the normal Simply event entrance within the attraction. Either entrance is fine to use and both are open from 9.00am, with the exhibitors entrance closing around 11am.

      Jaguar Owners Club (1).pdf
    • Simply Jaguar - Beaulieu Motor Museum - 25th June 2023
      Jaguar Owners Club have a stand at this years Simply Jaguar event at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire on Sunday 26th June 2023

      Tickets are available online here: https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/simply-jaguar/


      TICKETS & PRICES
      Participant prices are only valid if arriving in a Jaguar and taking part in the rally. They are not valid for those arriving on foot.

      Participants can make the most of our EARLY BIRD discount by booking before 28th February 2023.

      Children under 5 require a ticket, this can be booked online free of charge.

      Participant and visitor tickets will include entrance to the rest of the Beaulieu attraction, including the National Motor Museum, Palace House, Little Beaulieu, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey and its grounds and gardens.

      The best time for viewing the Simply rally is between 10am and 2pm.

       

       


      Adult


      Child




      Participants – Early Bird*


      £14.00


      £7.50




      Participants – Standard & On The Day


      £16.00


      £8.00




      Visitors


      Normal admission applies.


      Normal admission applies







      *Early bird tickets are available until 28th February 2023

      VEHICLE ENTRY
      Entry with your Jaguar is from 9am – 2pm. Please make sure you have your ticket printed or available on your phone, ready to be scanned on arrival.

      Please do not arrive early for our Simply rallies as no facilities will be open prior to 9:30am.

      Cars cannot leave and re-enter the grounds for the Simply rallies.

      ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      CLUB STAND ATTENDEE LIST

      We do ask for a final update on numbers 2 weeks prior to the event following which we will send out club labels to you via email for you to then distribute out to club members. Club members then need to print and display these in their windscreen on arrival. This helps us then park you all in your club area together.

      1. Trevor (admin)
      2.  Paj
      3.  
       
      • 6 replies

×
×
  • Create New...



Forums


News


Membership


  • Insurance
  • Support