Hi

I am new to the forum and wondered if anyone could help.

A couple of weeks ago my 1998 1.3 Felicia had the battery warning light come on. OH checked the belt and we just put the bonnet down, the light had gone off and all seemed fine.

Until Friday night.....

Was driving kids home in the dark and the airbag light came on. Got home (about 2 miles) and tried to restart the car. Nothing - dead as a dodo. OH tried to start car an hour later and bingo - started first time, no warning lights on etc etc.

Saturday went into town. 3 miles down the road airbag light came on but car kept going. Did the Tesco shop and came back out to start it - nothing - dead as dodo again.

Hubby came out and jump started the car (it was a torrential rain storm). Managed to drive 3 miles - airbag light came on, wipers got slower and slower and finally the car just died on the roundabout of a dual carriageway!!!!

We finally got the car home (5 miles in torrential rain) by jump starting it 3 more times. Abandoned it at the garage at the top if the road.

Garage have looked at it and think it is the alternator (£200+ bill).

Does anyone know if it is likely to be the alternator or just the voltage regulator (garage owner can be a bit dodgy with overcharging)? Also, are we likely to have done any other damage like frying the electrics?

Hubby will talk to the mechanic and wants to repair it himself if he can to save the bill - but we need to do it fast since we live in the country and I have to get the kids to school!!!

Many many thanks in anticipation of your advice - wish I had found this forum before since we have been plagued with a passenger footwell leak which the dealership have been useless about.)

It's likely to be the alternator. If you have a volt meter you can check the charging rate, if it is high (above 14.5V) you may get away with replacing the regulator. The alternator for a car with power steering has a different body, pulley and mounting points to a non power steering cars alternator. The alternator will not charge if the ignition warning light bulb is blown and once fixed the airbag fault codes will need erasing to extinguish the airbag warning light.

With excessive overcharging you run the risk of messing up the battery and/or the engine control unit.

With your leak in the passenger footwell - the sunroof's and windscreens often leak. If you have a sunroof, start by cleaning the rubber seal which the glass closes on to. Alternatively it will need sealing around the outside.

If its the windscreen leaking then you will probably need to have a new seal - Felicias are a pain for this!

As fordfan says test the reading that the alternator is giving out with a multimeter. It sounds expensive for a replacement alternator with your local garage - you maybe able to get a reconditioned one cheaper. Its not too difficult to replace.

Sound like the voltage regulator on the alternator if the airbag light is coming on.

Think they are only a few ££'s so check the output voltage from the alternator and if it is too high then this is your problem!

Phil

Thanks for the replies so far - I will pass the info on to my husband.

The good news I suppose is that the car only has 37K on the clock and has an MOT until August so if we can get it fixed.........

Here's a voltage regulator Skoda Favorit/Felicia Voltage Regulator-NEW on eBay (end time 27-Oct-09 09:04:05 GMT)

All they are is 2 screws and a spade (electrical) connector and can usually be replaced without taking the alternator off the car. Easier than replacing the alternator, but as mentioned above the alternator isn't too difficult with a good set of spanners/socket set.