Hi all,

I have a '99 T reg Felicia 1.3 MPI. All been fine except when starting up to return home from work yesterday I noticed a whine, which I assumed to come from the alternator area (Sounds a bit like a pressure washer motor).

Stopped on way home to get some bits and pieces and when I restarted the car I noticed both the battery and oil lights flicker at idle but both went out when revved. Got home, switched off and battery light stayed on.

This morning, totally flat battery. Having had a look around the forum it appears the regulator is a weak spot but just doing some general 'googling' for this issue (non car specific) it's thrown up other possiblities such as ignition switch, instrument cluster, wiring etc. I've seen nothing specific for the Felicia having the battery light on with the engine NOT running.

Any guidance would be a massive help.

Thanks

Ok first you need to eliminate any other potential causes, check the condition and security of all the battery cables and earth straps etc at the body, starter motor, engine etc.

Have you actually checked what voltage you are getting across the battery terminals when it's under load?

When you say the battery is totally dead are the lights on the dash coming on or is there nothing at all?

Ok first you need to eliminate any other potential causes, check the condition and security of all the battery cables and earth straps etc at the body, starter motor, engine etc.

Have you actually checked what voltage you are getting across the battery terminals when it's under load?

When you say the battery is totally dead are the lights on the dash coming on or is there nothing at all?

Not had a chance to do anything at all with it (apart from disconnect battery this evening when I got home). Simply nowhere with any light for me to do so until the weekend. When I got in the car this

morning I had a very faint interior light and zero warning lights with ignition on, but the interior light dimmed further when the igntion was on. That's all the info I have really.

Had similar occur a short while ago.

Worth a punt if time is awkward, get a voltage regulator [which comes with new brushes] for a modest amount from Jorily....it's a 2 minute fitting job, see what difference it makes?

If n difference, then the alternator may have an internal fault, so a replacement may be on the cards. One from a scrap car is ok, since you will have a new brush/voltage pack to fit.

I'm a bit late back on this with an update. I did as suggested and tried a regulator and it part cured the problem. Whipped the alternator into a local auto electrical place and it was the rectifier pack that had gone. Didn't have the opportunity to get it all back on until just over a week ago but all has been fine since.