hello all,

Well this aint the best Good Friday to start off ! Im on my way south on the first day of my hols driving down the M1 when the `Battery` warning light started to flicker, so i pulled into Trowell services, had a quick look, all seemed fine when it went out again, continued on with the journey down the M42 10 miles or so ... light back on ...as its pitch black nowhere to stop i carried on until Tamworth services. As im coming off around the island i now hear some kind of strange knocking ( sounds lower down, maybe suspension area n/s) To top it all, ive just found out my AA membership expired and they want to extort major money to re-join ( as its now a breakdown situation, they say ) 212 plus they say ! I know this is a very looong shot, but can any of you fellow Briskodians offer some help and advice please? Maybe a local reputable garage who i can trust not to take my eyes out? I am booked onto a ferry saturday am..... missed it now for sure :( Im here with myself and my young son .... What a nightmare !! Any help greatly appreciated .. THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE ......my number is 07425-404-194

At a guess it could be an alternator problem I'm sure I have read somewhere about wires corroding leading to the dash light coming on...but that wouldn't explain the knocking however.

Have you checked the battery is all ok?

Check the box of wires connected to the positive side of the battery. (on top or just beside it) The top just pops open on a hinge. My electrics went haywire last year, turned out to be corrosion on the connectors in there. If you have any tools, might be worth undoing, cleaning and redoing the connectors... Just a thought. Good luck..

As above, check the wires in the fuse box on top of the battery, mainly the black wire that leads to the alternator. I had it a few weeks back got a new fuse and a new crimp terminal for the end of the wire from the dealer (£2ish) and it's been fine since.

Although the noise could be alternator related, check the wire/fuse first as it's easiest to spot and repair will take 5mins to sort if it is that. Make sure you change the crimp tho as it'll just happen again (Skoda tech guy informed me of this when mine went).

Good luck in sorting it

As above, check the wires in the fuse box on top of the battery, mainly the black wire that leads to the alternator. I had it a few weeks back got a new fuse and a new crimp terminal for the end of the wire from the dealer (£2ish) and it's been fine since.

Although the noise could be alternator related, check the wire/fuse first as it's easiest to spot and repair will take 5mins to sort if it is that. Make sure you change the crimp tho as it'll just happen again (Skoda tech guy informed me of this when mine went).

Good luck in sorting it

+1 for all the above.

Had this issue with mine when light came on then intermittent. I traced the wires back to the fuse box and the connectors that run to the gearbox. I unplugged all connectors(including alternator one), cleaned them sprayed electrical silicon spray down the connectors and replugged. I tightened up all nuts on the fuse box and smeared electrical sealant over the battery terminals and fuse box. All is now good

Hi and thanks to the guys who have replied with some great advice ! The alternator looks like the culprit as you rightly stated.Ive loooked at the other areas around the battery ( fuses etc clean as a whistle ) The knocking i found in daylight turned out to be the heat shield above the exhaust half way back on the car? The rivets had let go causing a rattle/ knocking sound. more prominenet when moving slowly or reversing.....Its great to know that there are genuine people on here willing to offer advice though .. Long live Briskoda !!