Hi,

I've my octavia TDI 1.9 4x4 from new in 2006.  It has over 300kms but is regularly serviced and passed its car test recently so its good for the next 2 years.  Mid this year it got a new alternator and it drives well.

In recent weeks the battery light has been flashing intermittently for about the first 5 minutes of my journey in the morning.  The car is starting first time with no problem.  Temperatures have been mild.  About 5 mins into my journey the battery light doesn't flash anymore.  Recent weeks mornings have been very wet, persistent rain.   I haven't driven through any deep puddles mind you.

If I drive later in the day, say a return journey home, the battery light doesn't appear to flash.

Can't remember when I last replaced the battery so could be that, but the fact that it starts without issue would suggest it isn't battery.

Any ideas?

Regards,

Mick

I would say the battery could be slowly dying. Maybe try a long drive like 50+ kms to help it charge up more.

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I'd agree; that looks very much like you've next to no charge left in the battery when the engine fires.

Sounds to me like the auxiliary belt is slipping when the engine is cold and the pulleys / tensioners / belt is damp.

 

Given that the alternator was recently replaced would suggest to me the belt wasn't replaced / refitted correctly.

 

From the owners manual...

 

"The battery warning light comes on after the ignition has been switched on. It should go out after the engine has started.

 

If the warning light does not go out after the engine has started, or comes on when driving, drive to the nearest specialist garage. The vehicle battery will be discharged in this case so switch off all non-essential electrical components.
 

Caution
 

If the battery warning light comes on when driving and in addition the warning light for the cooling system also comes on in the display, you must then stop the car immediately and switch the engine off - risk of engine damage!"

+1   unless you know it's had a new belt recently I would replace it anyway  (Gates state every four years-but they do make and sell them :p )  they can wear and bake hard with heat and crack and do expensive damage if they give up the ghost

Is this belt on the service schedule?

 

My Octavia is close to 8 years old now.

 

Would a new belt be sensible preventative maintenance?

Is this belt on the service schedule?

 

My Octavia is close to 8 years old now.

 

Would a new belt be sensible preventative maintenance?

​The perceived wisdom is to not only change the belt but the water pump as well.

​The perceived wisdom is to not only change the belt but the water pump as well.

 I think the belt in question here is the auxiliary belt,not the cam belt (which runs the water pump). You're correct though in that it's just as well having the water pump done at the same time as having a new cambelt kit fitted. Auxiliary belt isn't a 'service' item but it's usually one of the first things I change as well as the tensioner when I buy a new (2nd hand) car. When I got this VRs at 5years old and 107,000 miles,I got a Gates auxiliary belt/tensioner kit from doctor car parts.

Thanks guys, I had the cambelt and waterpump done at 4 years old, it is due it's second one next year.

 

Never even thought of the auxiliary belt (also known as the fan belt?), so might get this done next time too.

Thanks guys, I had the cambelt and waterpump done at 4 years old, it is due it's second one next year.

 

Never even thought of the auxiliary belt (also known as the fan belt?), so might get this done next time too.

Yes, because back in the olde days (when I was young and cars normally didn't have PAS, air-conditioning, FWD...) this belt drove the fan, water pump and generator, and nothing else!

Yes, because back in the olde days (when I was young and cars normally didn't have PAS, air-conditioning, FWD...) this belt drove the fan, water pump and generator, and nothing else!

and if it lasted 3 years you were doing well :sun:

I would say the battery could be slowly dying. Maybe try a long drive like 50+ kms to help it charge up more.

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Or just use a charger.

I popped the bonnet earlier today.

 

The belt that was clearly visible was the one connected to the end of the alternator (a lot of copper windings, or is it the starter motor?).

 

I found this picture online, the belt was just under the hose to the left of the red circle...

 

 

I'd always (wrongly?) assumed that this was the cambelt as it seems to run around at least another couple of pulleys further back.

 

There was a black plastic shroud behind this belt which looks as though it could be housing the cambelt?

I popped the bonnet earlier today.

The belt that was clearly visible was the one connected to the end of the alternator (a lot of copper windings, or is it the starter motor?).

I found this picture online, the belt was just under the hose to the left of the red circle...

I'd always (wrongly?) assumed that this was the cambelt as it seems to run around at least another couple of pulleys further back.

There was a black plastic shroud behind this belt which looks as though it could be housing the cambelt?

The alternator is what is circled. The belt you can see is definitely the auxilliary belt, the cam belt is toothed at hidden under the covers between the auxilliary belt and the engine block.

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As suspected, thanks trundlenut, as it was very visible the auxiliary belt did look in good nick, although I appreciate this is not an accurate way of determining the belts condition.

 

Will probably get it changed when it's in for it's next service as a precaution!

It's not 'that' hard to change it yourself TBH. I get from your posts that you do a bit of self service,buy yourself a Haynes manual (it'll come in useful anyway) have a read up and decide if you want to try. You can't **** up the tension as it's self tensioning. I wouldn't describe myself as anymore than a keen diy'er (for instance I wouldn't dare to attempt the cambelt) and had no drama doing mine. Personally I would (and did) replace both the belt and tensioner.

 

Although I said it in earlier post it wasn't a service item,it is probably or should be one of the things that is supposed to be visually inspected for damage.

Edited 2 January, 201610 yr by hatchy

Thanks guys.  Appreciate the informed views.  I'll visit my service guy asap next week to follow up.