This week my battery light started to come on and off.

 

I have a brand new battery holding a good charge. The alternator charging at 14.5v which is all good.

 

Just seeing what other things it could be?

 

Skoda fabia 1.4 tdi.

 

Thanks.

At a guess it could be the exciter wire at the alternator plug.  I believe they have been known to fracture and break, or at least they did on some of the 1.9s

Check the freewheeling pulley.

3 minutes ago, skomaz said:

At a guess it could be the exciter wire at the alternator plug.  I believe they have been known to fracture and break, or at least they did on some of the 1.9s

I will check this and have a look thanks

2 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Check the freewheeling pulley.

What's the way to check this is good or bad?

 

Thanks

Not sure, no personal experience of a faulty one, are you hearing any odd noises?

1 hour ago, Kelly_Heroes said:

Just seeing what other things it could be

Exciter wire starting to pull off its alternator contact. It really wants rerouting so its path is maybe 1cm shorter. Worked on my Octy (TDi 110).

22 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Not sure, no personal experience of a faulty one, are you hearing any odd noises?

The noise just sounds the same and the belt was changed last year no slipping.

22 hours ago, skomaz said:

At a guess it could be the exciter wire at the alternator plug.  I believe they have been known to fracture and break, or at least they did on some of the 1.9s

Exciter wire is that the big thick black wire?

22 hours ago, Paws4Thot said:

Exciter wire starting to pull off its alternator contact. It really wants rerouting so its path is maybe 1cm shorter. Worked on my Octy (TDi 110).

Exciter wire is that the big thick black wire?

23 hours ago, Kelly_Heroes said:

This week my battery light started to come on and off.

 

I have a brand new battery holding a good charge. The alternator charging at 14.5v which is all good.

 

Just seeing what other things it could be?

 

Skoda fabia 1.4 tdi.

 

Thanks.

New update when the main beam 2nd click on light switch. The lights are switched on the battery light doesn't come on it stays off.

 

But when the lights are of and just side lights the battery light still comes on and off.

Edited 4 October, 20232 yr by Kelly_Heroes

Exciter wire is the thin blue one, one of the the two that connect via the little two-way plug. 

If the battery light works at all, that wire is OK, I believe.

 

You might have some loom damage somewhere that's giving weird results when wet?

 

22 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Exciter wire is the thin blue one, one of the the two that connect via the little two-way plug. 

If the battery light works at all, that wire is OK, I believe.

 

You might have some loom damage somewhere that's giving weird results when wet?

 

The reverse censer wires have broken due to the plastic cover.  I will have to fix these 2 wires wander if this could cause a problem?

 

I've fixed the other wires near the gearbox which sorted the windows and charging up last year.

I've fixed the reverse lights now the wires broken on the switch. It was near where I fixed the window connector in front of the gear box.

 

I've checked the wires and connector on the alternator they all look in good condition.

 

I did anther test today using a cig lighter charger showing the amps while driving. When the battery light off it charges 14.5v. But soon as the light comes on it will drop to 12.5v to 13v. Then when the light off back to 14.5v So this sounds like it's the alternator now?

 

I'm looking on gsf car parts there seems to be 2 alternators 90amp and 120amp?

 

Thanks

Edited 9 October, 20232 yr by Kelly_Heroes

How many miles on the car?

Could just be brushes worn down too far. Brushpack/regulator generally cheaper than a whole alternator. 

Alt will have part number and rating pretty clearly written on a label on the back end, I'd expect.

3 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

How many miles on the car?

Could just be brushes worn down too far. Brushpack/regulator generally cheaper than a whole alternator. 

Alt will have part number and rating pretty clearly written on a label on the back end, I'd expect.

90amp £85 and the 120amp £185. I can get free postage or collect down the road and £33 cash back which is a good deal if it's the 90amp one.

 

The regulator £22 and the brush pack about £25.

 

Mileage nearly 166,000miles.

Regulator and brushpack are all one part I think, can see part of its Bosch part number in your first pic 

F00M1232...

 

I know you can change the regulator and resinater. But there also the pully with bearing. I looked in to all this with winter here I thought changing one part anther might go anther time soon due to mileage 166000miles.

 

So for the sake of £85 with 3 year warranty it was a lot easier due to my work business. very busy at the moment.

 

The battery light staying on longer now so it was time to get this changed asp.

A replacement alternator is hundreds of times more likely to fail than you existing factory fitted one once fitted with a new brush pack/regulator although the reliability of those wont be as good as the original.

 

My MK1 wore its brushes out after about 200K miles but in far fewer years so yours are probably worn/sticking, with a new brushpack/regulator it was still going strong at 325000 miles.

 

Replacement alternators are poor quality compared to factory fit and always have been.

 

You are lucky to have good access to yours judging by the photo, it will be easier to replace the brushpack/regulator than change the alternator.

On 14/10/2023 at 10:56, J.R. said:

A replacement alternator is hundreds of times more likely to fail than you existing factory fitted one once fitted with a new brush pack/regulator although the reliability of those wont be as good as the original.

 

My MK1 wore its brushes out after about 200K miles but in far fewer years so yours are probably worn/sticking, with a new brushpack/regulator it was still going strong at 325000 miles.

 

Replacement alternators are poor quality compared to factory fit and always have been.

 

You are lucky to have good access to yours judging by the photo, it will be easier to replace the brushpack/regulator than change the alternator.

I had to change the hole alternator in the end. The bearings in the pully where noisy when spinning by hand. Then the regulator or brush pack had gone as well.

 

I got a good deal in the end new alternator free postage and £85 with 3 year warranty. I think there a surcharge I might get £35 back just waiting on this.