Every now and then I get a beep and a message on the Maxi-dot saying "Alternator - Workshop". Sometimes it just goes away, sometimes it comes back, and sometimes I also get a red error light showing for the charging system as well. I have mentioned it to the dealer previously but was told that there are no errors on the engine management system and it is just an aberration - nothing to worry about. Any views on this from others? It certainly doesn't happen regularly, and I think it happens more often when it is damp, but I would prefer it if it didn't happen at all!

Worth checking the connections are clean and tight on the alternator, belt tight, and the battery connections are clean and tight. Check too the battery earth on the nearside suspension turret under the bonnet...eg. clean and tight, smear with vaselene etc. Had this problem on a motor once and it turned out to be the battery was faulty...one of the posts was a loose fit in the battery case! You mention it seems to happen in the damp...perhaps when you are running high electrical load eg. window demister rear, heater blower, wipers, maybe lights etc. A not so good earth may explain it, but it could be other things too. Check battery cell fluid level too. The batteries are maintenance free, but do need servicing at service intervals by your garage. Some garages don't realise that and don't check levels so cells sometimes go dry causing charging problems especially when under load.

I don't know how indepth your garage checked the vehicle but don't assume they have checked all of the above...often I saw colleagues in the workshop just plug the car in and check the computer without doing any of the above. If no faults show they were...errr...lazy, and didn't do anything else. No disrespect to any good techs on here. Good luck nickcoll, let us all know what you find.