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        General >> Problems >> STRANGE!!!
        
(Message started by: scorpi on May 13^th, 2004, 10:58am)

Title: STRANGE!!!
Post by scorpi on May 13^th, 2004, 10:58am

Hi , guys
Got a question!
A few weeks aggo someone crashed into the driversside of my car.
When it was fixed someone told me they let the door open for a while.
So you can guess ....almost a flat battery.
Then started it up and left her running.
The needles went wild when they did this.
Got her back soon and all was good and fab.

The strange thing is that before the crash everything worked ,but now after a few weeks ,my needles went wild.
Could it be that they simply replaced the old battery with a new one but not the correct one.
Or if it's the alternator ,how and where do i measure
I'm a newbe so be gentle

Many thanks,
Scorpi

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by Dazzer0016 on May 13^th, 2004, 11:23am

hi
usually a new strong battery will do the trick, if it was replaced with a new or old battery may be underpowered or faulty take it back to whoever did the work , ask them to look at it for you
i paid about £60-£70 for a new battery 12 months ago (needles jumping around) no probs since

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by scorpi on May 13^th, 2004, 12:59pm

Thanks for the reply Dazzer, but how do i know i'snt the alternator?

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by craig on May 13^th, 2004, 2:06pm

99% sure it is the battery,you can check the output of the alternator dy using a multi-meter,or an easier way is to use the re-set button on the speedo,keep it pressed in for a few seconds and it runs through a little diagnostic check,you will see the output near the very end of that cycle,just keep pressing the button...

HTH

craig..

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by Oliver on May 13^th, 2004, 4:09pm

Leaving the doors open should not flatten the battery. After about 20 minutes they should switch off automatically. Having said that there is a continuous current drain albeit small.

The dancing needles effect is a characteristic of the instrument cluster initialising after a low voltage condition. This will occur after the battery has been disconnected or if the voltage drops below a certin threshold when cranking the engine at start up. It is a very common symptom which may indicate that the battery is not able to sustain the current drain it used to and a replacement is usually the cure. leaking diodes in the alternator can also drain the battery. Search the web site, I am sure there is more info there.

Oliver

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by scorpi on May 14^th, 2004, 7:41am

Thanks for the replies guys,

So , do i measure at the + and - of the battery (Volts)?
Or do i have to diconnect the + of the battery and put the multimeter inbetween for Amp. reading?
And last , what's the reading i should see 13,6 V with running engine or higher?

Thanks again guys!

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by Snoopy on May 14^th, 2004, 7:55am

If you are reading volts then straight across the terminals will give you the reading but the same can be effected from the dashboard diagnostics in the car... To read amps it has to be inline ... the voltage with the engine riunning should be about 13.8 Volts and 11.8/11.9 when not.. with the onboard diagnostics you can see what it drops to as you start the car which is sometimes useful.... for more info look here
http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/instreset.htm

Cheers
Snoopy

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by scorpi on May 14^th, 2004, 9:58am

Thanks , snoopy

Will try the diagnostics and who knows ,i might learn somethings thanks to you guys.(is my first job on the scorp)

Many thanks
Scorpi

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by scorpi on May 17^th, 2004, 9:35am

Hi guys,

Yall had a nice weekend?
I tested my scorp with the diagnostics, like you said.
Volt : about 14,0V

Engine off :voltage drop slowly to 12V (battery) , then stops.
So what's wrong ?
Everything seems o.k.
Could it be water ? (like in rain , never put a hose in my engine bay!)

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by Snoopy on May 18^th, 2004, 8:19am

Have you tried starting the car with the battery diagnostics on... What does the battery read when its starting from cold.... if it drops BELOW 10.8 volts that is enough to cause the syptoms you have stated.....

Cheers
Snoopy

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by scorpi on May 18^th, 2004, 11:16am

Thanks for the reply snoopy,

Everything was o.k. , for a few days.
This morning before goining to work the needles went mad again.(morning dew?)
Quikly shutdown the engine and started her up again with battery diagnostics.
Went down from 11.9 (batterypower)to about 10.7V(starting).
I did this in a matter of seconds since i'm waiting for this to happen.
So the battery got no time to charge!
Like i said batterypower 11.9V ,but is this enough or should this be higher?

Could you please tell me what's wrong

Thanks again
scorpi

Title: Re: STRANGE!!!
Post by Paul B on May 18^th, 2004, 8:42pm

Hmm, I tried this on mine this morning. Turned ignition on & started diagnostics (can't remember voltage now) but when I turned the key further to start it, the displays just went blank and everything reset and the diagnostic mode ended automatically. >:(
I really must change my alternator soon!

Paul