Ive put this in the techie forum, but now out to you lot in general. I had a very scary experience at the West Midlands Safari Park in that I lost all PAS and had the dash light up like an xmas tree! And this was in the middle of the Lions enclosure:eek: :eek: :eek: Definate brown trousers moment, limped aound the park trying to get a charge back into the car.....

So Ive now had chance to get a voltmeter on the car and have found.....

1) Voltage before start up 12-13V

2) Voltage post start up 12-13V

3) Rev engine to approx 3000rpm 13-14V

4) Engine back to idle voltage stays at 13-14V

Also if I place an electrical load on the car at number 2 above the voltage starts to drop, but holds steady if done at 4.

Any ideas??

Cheers

Andy

Hi Andy,

You say that if you put a load on at (2) the voltage starts to drop!

What is the load (Watts or Amps)?

Steve

Basically all lights, radio, fan max'd heated rear and hazards..... But hold it pretty well on 4.

hi andy

I know you have put every thing on to test it, but did you have every thing on when the fault happened?

I would say with the engine stopped(for some time) the voltage should be about 12.6 Volts, when the engine is running but at idle the should be around the same, but at about 3000 rpm, then you should get 14.2-14.4 Volts.

If then you turn every thing on, then should get 13.8, or mabe a bit less.

so driving round very slowly with a lot of load, you might get a flat battery.

what I would do is charge the battery, leave it over night, and check the voltage, if it is about 12.6 Volts then things are fine.

Andy, I assume when you put the ignition on the battery light comes on and goes out when the engine starts.

But what has me concerned is that it doesnt seem to start producing a charge until the engine has been over 3000rpm at least once...... Normal?

Andy, I assume when you put the ignition on the battery light comes on and goes out when the engine starts.

Yep all lights behave like normal, had had it happen a few times on lessons, usually when we have being a lot of manouvouring, ie 3 point turns etc.

Sounds to me like a new battery might be in order, it might be putting out the voltage but it may not be enough current to supply the power steering pump etc.

Battery less than a year old, but is it not strange that I dont get the volatge jump IMMEDIATELY on start up, wifes 1.4 goes straight to 14v on start up mine needs that rev to 3000rpm to get same effect.......

I have changed a few alternators on 1.9 TDi's. Could be the start of failings.