Evening

My 02 Octavia 1.9tdi battery light started flashing after I ran over something like a plastic bottle, which dragged under the sump panel for a around 100ft before falling away. Shortly after the item fell away, the battery light stopped flashing. I have since filled up with diesel and driven home with out any problems.

I assume that the bottle or what ever got caught on a something that caused the car to earth? - all electrics appear fine, the headlamps are ok for 9 year old bulbs.

If anyone has any ideas (preferably not impending doom), please feel free to comment.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

Maybe it slowed the alternator belt for a while :no:

mmmm, does your car have the full under-engine plastic tray?

The alternator is halfway up the front of the engine so I doubt the bottle got up there.... Maybe you have a dodgy earth somewhere.

mmmm, does your car have the full under-engine plastic tray?

The alternator is halfway up the front of the engine so I doubt the bottle got up there.... Maybe you have a dodgy earth somewhere.

Its got the full plastic under engine tray.

Having restarted the car just now, no flickering battery light, lights did not dim and no squealing from the alternator belt. in fact everything was fine with Aircon on full, rear demister and mirror heaters, plus all lights.

Edited 30 November, 201114 yr by stoswald

I would check the charging voltage on the battery (should be around 14.1v, but no higher) and keep an eye on things for a while...

tbh: if the bottle had got in with the aux drive belt I would half expect it is be all mashed up, but that said there isn't a great deal of it exposed at the bottom of the engine where a bottle could actually get to.

I would check the charging voltage on the battery (should be around 14.1v, but no higher) and keep an eye on things for a while...

tbh: if the bottle had got in with the aux drive belt I would half expect it is be all mashed up, but that said there isn't a great deal of it exposed at the bottom of the engine where a bottle could actually get to.

Well this is interesting. No problems going to or from work, there was a slight clicking sound from the area of aux belt, but this did not match the speed of the belt was doing, best way to describe it is that something was vibrating and catching the belt now and again. And nothing looking like a foreign object in the engine bay.

I've just now popped out to take son back to his mums and The Aux belt squealed and the battery light came on and went off - been fine since. Temperature was 8 according to the temp gauge, but had dropped to 5 degrees by the time I got back (rather the car was reading a higher outside temperature) - only thing I didn't do was let the glow plug go fully out - after all the car was telling me 8 degrees and not under 5.

I sat in the car and ran the engine with all electrics on, slight dimming of the headlights, but nothing more than normal with air con and rear heater on.

All being well we will have a frost here tonight so the car will be cold, so if I am going to have problems it will be tomorrow 7.15am!

I'll keep everyone informed as to any problems and monitor the charge over the battery at the weekend.

All being well we will have a frost here tonight so the car will be cold, so if I am going to have problems it will be tomorrow 7.15am!

Try 0545 instead, like me :'(

I wonder if your aux belt tensioner is starting to fail. These can prematurely fail when then freewheel pulley on the alternator starts to seize.

Something similar happened on mine, and the pulley seized and broke off. For other members on here it has caused the aux tensioner to break (repeatedly until the pulley was replaced too).

Edited 2 December, 201114 yr by mbames

Any idea on the cost of parts?

Tensioner is about £100, and the pulley about £35, iirc from when I changed mine. I am sure I posted the price of the parts up before so if you have a search you will find more info.

Thanks

Mine is an ALH - this looks similar

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=218

I take it they are easy to replace, or shall I go to an independent?

The pulley requires special tool to get it off the alternator, or a friendly garage who will change it for you. Ideally it needs the alternator to come out, which can be a bit difficult as the brass bushes can sort of jam it in place. I removed my PAS pump and one of the rad fans to make access easier.

If you are half handy with some tools you should be fine. It is a bonus to have a second pair of hands when removing the locking pin for the tensioner.

thanks, I'll talk to my independent tomorrow and see what he says

UPDATE

Charging system charges on tick over but not on full load, the voltage drops very slowly. 14 across the battery, 13.8 to 13.1 on full load.

Prognosis is a failing alternator , or failing that the pulley/hydraulic tensioner is on its way out :( . My mechanic thinks the pulley/tensioner is more likely as the mileage (86k) is a bit low for an alternator to fail :yes: .

The alternator is £168 plus vat (new) or £59 plus VAT for the pulley/hydraulic tensioner (new)the later not much more than AVS Carparts.

Booked in Tuesday first thing.

Edited 3 December, 201114 yr by stoswald

ALL FIXED

New Alternator - there was a corroded terminal

and

New Alternator Pulley - as per advice on here

and

New Aux Belt - 3.5 cm of belt was damaged,the V grooves had gone and at one end it looked like the belt had started to melt

and

New nut for the Air-con pump

and

several cable ties to repair the under engine tray.

Total cost to me was £350 cash :S .

Thanks to mbames and Stanbridge Motors, 22 Cottage Leap, Rugby.

Glad to hear it is sorted... Was the terminal that bad on the alternator it needed replacing? :'(

At least you won't be stuck on a cold winter night night with a flat battery though