Hi All

 

Took the wife car out last night and noticed the battery light is very dimly glowing when the light are on. If I turn the lights off the battery light goes off but if I open the door and the curtesy lights come on the battery glows again.

 

I checked the battery voltage this morning after it's been standing over night which showed 12.06 volts so guess that's a bit low but not had any starting issues in the cold. I tested the voltage whilst running and it was charing on idle at about 14.08 volts and when I increase the revs a bit 14.28 volts so would say the alternator is doing it's job.

 

Would I be right in thinking this is possible a grounding issue or am I going up the wrong path here. If so what the best way to test and try to find the issue

 

Thanks

 

Glenn

I think there have been a few issues with grounding, namely the earth lead from the battery to the chassis being loose or worn. The usual thing at this cars age will be a weak battery though.  It might be charging but still be weak. If it is this, it will usually fail completely in due time. Mine is a three cal diesel, used as a driving school car so its battery has a hard life and I am on to the third one, now!

Thanks mrgf

 

The battery does seem a tab thought although with the engine running and the alternator clearly charging, in theory this should not cause an issue.

 

The odd bit is that when the headlamp are on the battery light glows but not if using the side lights or dl's. Also if you open the door for the curtesy lights it glows but if you shut the door and turn on the curtesy lights it does not glow.

 

Been trying to find a wiring diagram to find where these may be earthed as don't see any voltage drop on the main battery to body or body to engine. Can't seem to find 1 on Elsawin 

Have you tried checking the voltage across the battery when there is a serious load on the electrical system, like rear window heater and headlights?

 

In days gone by, when the charge (failure) light started glowing, it usually meant a faulty diode in the rectifier stack - or even the surge protection diode failing, though nowadays I'd think that it might indicate well worn brushes or some fault with the built in regulator pack?

Haynes manual? That door thing-does it do/not do it with both the front doors or just the drivers one?  I have read that opening the drivers door activates the fuel pump on some cars so the drain to the battery might just be greater!

Additionally, door wires inside the bellows snap/fracture so make sure they are intact and are not touching other wires in the loom. A real good look is needed as they are very thin and quite a few.

Edited 23 December, 20187 yr by mrgf

Bump. Have exactly same issue. Anybody found solution?

As the original poster stopped messaging, I recon they sorted their issue. My thoughts a re still that it needed a new battery and work from there. How old is your car and how old is its battery?

 

Car is 2012 and battery is quite new. I don't think it's battery related - charging is ok and after few days of resting voltage is also ok.

Today i discovered that also turning on anti fog lights also makes glowing steering wheel on dash. 

 

I think it's grounding issue but not sure .. and if yes - which grounding?

Solved by replacing the whole speedometer unit 

Gulp, that sounds like being a bit expensive, though finding a garage person to sniff around for cracked joints might have cost just as much!

Did you swap out/code the cluster yourself as I am looking to do this myself - temp gauge and fuel level gauge not working - have accessed the old/replacement codes from the clusters - and believe that I have all the info required to allow coding through VCDS but as you have done/had this done would be great for confirmation of actions.

Sorry but I don't have vcds - mechanic guy did all the work