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Topic: intermitant battery light on (Read 1888 times) |
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Steve_S
Full Member
1997 scorpio ultima 2.9 24v lpg
 
 
Posts: 655
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intermitant battery light on
« on: Jan 18th, 2008, 2:03am » |
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Hi all....
seem to have a problem with alternaters
fitted a new alternator 3 months ago, at first it was ok but started to fail dimming lights low voltage output with intermitent red light. If i went slow it usualy settled but at high speed would come back on again..... sometimes it was fine, other times it would come on and stay on for quite a while and pulsate.... funny when it was pulsating it was kicking out 13.7+ volts...
They replaced it FOC two weeks ago even though they could not find a fault under test in the garage, (only seems to do it when warmed up on the moterway) and was ok until yesterday when the red light came on again and the output voltage droped to about 12.6 with the lights dimming down.. after a few minits it settled down again and was ok. til it did the same again today on the way to work doing 90ish... droped back on the speed and it corrected its self again
tonight I checked the voltage while driving, it was around 13.7 to 13.9 but dropes right down to around 12.8ish with all the electrics on, surely it should be keeping up..... Battery voltage seems to be about 11.9 when i got home even though no red light came on.
Had the battery checked a couple of weeks ago and was told it was fine.... all the wiring looks sound, no problem with connections to alternator or battery.....
.... help please
Steve... Ultima 24v p reg
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Steve S
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #1 on: Jan 18th, 2008, 2:52am » |
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Sounds like the voltage regulator on the alternator is starting to play up 
Was it a brand new one from Ford or a reconditioned unit ?
Recon alternators are, in my experience, no more reliable than what you would buy from a breakers yard 
Also, do you're dials flick around every time you start the car ?.....if so, then it could be a battery problem 
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Highlander
Moderator
Expert
13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
Posts: 8244
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #2 on: Jan 18th, 2008, 2:39pm » |
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Bad earth?
Is the drivebelt ok? correct belt and tension?
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:I give up ! Too much for an old boy!  |
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Steve_S
Full Member
1997 scorpio ultima 2.9 24v lpg
Posts: 655
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #3 on: Jan 18th, 2008, 3:06pm » |
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Both alternators were new ones, belts and tension in fine, no slipping.... the problem is occering when the car has been running for a while and is warmed up... wiggling of wires does not correct the problem... wirring and connections are OK earths checked and ok..... Its as if the alternator is overheating or something
Dials only spin after the light has been on for a while due to lack of charge, otherwise its ok
Battery 3 years old tested as ok 3 weeks ago, no cells down and holding good charge However could there be a fault on the battery which could effect the alternator in this way?
Steve
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Steve S
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Highlander
Moderator
Expert
13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #4 on: Jan 18th, 2008, 4:08pm » |
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Theres a mention of this on the fault finder, which advises to check the multiplugs under the battery tray.
Charge warning light flickers?
YES:
1. Check multiplug beneath battery shelf
2. Check alternator output - diode pack fault
1. I assume these are the internal multiplugs above the glovebox.
2. I think we have ruled out the alternators as the problem and I cant see it being the battery.
A bad connection could be heating up and causing these symptoms I would imagine.
Anyone advise?
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:| I give up ! Too much for an old boy! |
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TiberiuS
Senior Member
Ex. 1996 2.3 Ultima - RIP P789 KHJ
Posts: 2257
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #5 on: Jan 18th, 2008, 8:00pm » |
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Wet weather and electrics, I'd bet my life on it...been pouring down (original 7 letter word censored to 'flowing freely'  ) here today.
Check the most obvious, the connecions on the back of the alternator itself, some (at least the Mondeo, don't remember the Scorpio) have the large high current lead bolted on and then a multiplug which sometimes loses contact and throws the warning lamps on. Bad connection somewhere would cause resistance=voltage drop, might not be the alternator at all
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Bruce - '07 Jaguar XKR coupe, '95 Jaguar XJ Sport 4.0, '82 Ford Capri 2.0 Ghia, '15 Honda Civic (sloooooww..)
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Steve_S
Full Member
1997 scorpio ultima 2.9 24v lpg
Posts: 655
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #6 on: Jan 19th, 2008, 12:38am » |
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Thanks, can rule out the alternater connections as it was garage fitted (twice) The light is a steady glow when on, not pulsing, I know its been wet lately but that would not account for the prevoius alternator which played up wet or dry, warm or cold. a very wet night tonight and no trouble returning from work but it did come on for about five mins on the way in after about 10 mins driving in the dry. I will take a look at the connections mentioned tomorow and re-check the earths and see what happens
Thanks,
Steve
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Steve S
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Steve_S
Full Member
1997 scorpio ultima 2.9 24v lpg
Posts: 655
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #7 on: Jan 22nd, 2008, 1:26am » |
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Still cant find the fault, the light is coming on more and more but the voltage is reading 13.9ish on the dash... still got things to check yet though
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Steve S
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Steve_S
Full Member
1997 scorpio ultima 2.9 24v lpg
Posts: 655
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #8 on: Jan 23rd, 2008, 1:07am » |
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Im still trying to trace this fault... ruled out fuse box, thats dry as a bone.... Did some checks
Battery light on engine running... dash reads 13.9v
With engine stopped dash reads 11.9 and dials spin when ignition is swiched on
With a test meter on the battery and the engine ticking over voltage is around 13.9v
But with the engine stopped battery reads a healthy 12.6v which is .7v higher than the dash is telling me.
Im going to delve behind the fusebox and under the dash to see if i can spot any wiring faults and check the connectors......... Are there any earths I should be checking too, and if so where abouts?
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Steve S
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #9 on: Jan 23rd, 2008, 6:28am » |
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hi there
i still think the battery could be suspect.
Quote:With engine stopped dash reads 11.9 and dials spin when ignition is swiched on
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it could also be the alternater (one of them) overcharging (and overheating) the battery. have you opened up the battery caps (if you can)? is all the plates covered? may need a top up?
hth
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Simmo
Administrator
I'm an OAP !
Posts: 5508
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #10 on: Jan 23rd, 2008, 8:30am » |
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Highlander suggests (Reply 4) that the 'fault finder' reference may mean the connectors behind the passenger glove box. This area is well known for water ingress through the bulkhead behind the battery so would seem to be a logical place to check. You could also eliminate the battery by a temporary swop.
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Now I'm an OAP
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davem
Full Member
A member since August 2000
Posts: 135
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #11 on: Jan 23rd, 2008, 11:41am » |
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I have had the same problem for about 7 years (since I 1st owned the car- 95 Cosworth), i.e. dashboard alternator red light glowing intermittantly. Now it seems to be more on than off and I have also seen other users here with the same problem. To be honest, (like many others here) I simply ignored it and never had any flat battery problems or failing to start etc. Like yourself, it was a new battery and new alternator (7 years ago). I personally believe its a bad connection to the dash somewhere, which simply affects the status of the dashboard indicator and has no effect on the battery charging. I will continue to ignore it for another 7 years or until the car has a flat battery
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'95 Cosworth - 185,000 miles and still going
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Steve_S
Full Member
1997 scorpio ultima 2.9 24v lpg
Posts: 655
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #12 on: Jan 24th, 2008, 4:11am » |
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Yes thanks guys.... the battery has been tested and is good and holding good charge...... I think it must be the connections as in reply 4 or something simila and will check these as soon as i can..... for now its running ok it but will spend the week ind looking for the fault
Steve
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Steve S
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Steve_S
Full Member
1997 scorpio ultima 2.9 24v lpg
Posts: 655
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #13 on: Jan 29th, 2008, 4:28am » |
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Have the red light on nealy all the time now..... checked battery connections and cleaned them all up, checked wiring behind the dash right side, couldnt access anything on the glove box side, fuse box dry as a bone.... battery charging at 14 volts lights and everything are bright but ... dials still spinning at start up...
Could a faulty battery be causing the battery light to come on? had it checked 4 weeks ago, they said it was fine the voltage seemed a little low on sunday at 12.1v so put it on charge but the charger would only charge it at about 1 amp. After 3 hours disconected the charger and the voltage read 13.9v connected back up to the car and it droped to 12.7 the dials still span
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Steve S
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #14 on: Jan 29th, 2008, 6:36am » |
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on Jan 29th, 2008, 4:28am, Steve_S wrote:
Could a faulty battery be causing the battery light to come on? had it checked 4 weeks ago, they said it was fine the voltage seemed a little low on sunday at 12.1v so put it on charge but the charger would only charge it at about 1 amp. After 3 hours disconected the charger and the voltage read 13.9v connected back up to the car and it droped to 12.7 the dials still span
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i think so. can you try another one to test? these thing use a hell of a lot of current to start. the battery is generally the weak spot.
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Steve_S
Full Member
1997 scorpio ultima 2.9 24v lpg
Posts: 655
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #15 on: Jan 30th, 2008, 4:03am » |
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unfortunatly not the battery on my wifes car has the wrong terminals so i cant swap it.....
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Steve S
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #16 on: Jan 30th, 2008, 7:00am » |
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hi there
you could try battery adapters from a motor factor.
hth
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Steve_S
Full Member
1997 scorpio ultima 2.9 24v lpg
Posts: 655
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #17 on: Jan 30th, 2008, 2:20pm » |
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thanks
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Steve S
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blue2
Newbie
1995 Cosworth 24v & 2008 Mondeo Estate
Posts: 8
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #18 on: Feb 8th, 2008, 4:44pm » |
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I have had continual problems with dash light glowing dimly on my 1995 Cossie have 2 alternators and have replaced the regulator on one (due to a bodge by a supposed expert repairer). The light is often dimly on but comes and goes almost at random. The battery is charging but the control/excite voltage goes a bit low and it is low enough to show the dash light (which is a diode and LED in series). The point is, that whenever I take off and clean up the alternator brushes/slip rings etc. and refit it, it works for a month or two
with no sign of even a dim red light. My theory is, that hydraulic oil from the power steering reservoir which always seems to leak down the return pipe on these cars drips into the alternators and LUBRICATES the slip rings.
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deconick
Junior Member
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 100
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Re: intermitant battery light on
« Reply #19 on: Feb 8th, 2008, 6:54pm » |
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hi have you checked out the wire loom that runs down the side of the brake srevo it comes out the bulk head on drivers side,ive had ignition lights staying on and weird electric things going on,found a lot of wires with no insulation on and shorting out on each other,worth a look good luck
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