Hey Folks,

Crusing along in my TJ VR-X and the battery light started flashing up, fading in and out.

My thoughts are it could be a regulator on the alternator, or perhaps the battery is on the way out.

Also, sometimes, not all the time, the TCL, ABS and Seat belt light also came up at the same time? Maybe the current issues caused those systems to say hows it going, not sure?

Anyone experienced this issue?

Am I best getting the alternator reg checked first, change the battery next and see how I go, or just wait till the battery dies completely? Not sure, help is appreciated.

Boosty

When this happened to me in my ke, all the warning lights came on an started fading out, the next day the battery was gone and the car wouldn't start.

Turned out it was the alternator gone, and all that had been driving the car was the brand new battery which lasted a week without any juice

Mmm, could be mate. I'm taking it to Misti any way on friday for a service, they said it could be the regulator, alternator or even ignition switch.

Will find out soon,

Guys, just an update, the issue was the regulator on the alternator. Had that fixed and all good. Issue with the other lights is the unstable current can cause issues to other electrics so its important to fix it before it sends too much current around. Looking back a few weeks, my amplifiers fried in the car and most likely a result of over currenting so to speak.

Anyways, thought I'd share.

Glad it was just the regulator and not the whole alternator. That can get expensive quite quickly.

Actually the rest of the alternator was rehauled and replaced. Not new, was $600, this was more around $300. the alternator was only charging at 11.1 volts, instead of 14+

So had to get it repaired.

Paul

Wish i saw this earlier paul.

A local guy in Hallett cove comes and fits a refurbished one. He also takes your old one away to rebuild. All up cost me $250 fitted. Came to my work and did it in about 20minutes.

This happened to me and by sheer luck there was a battery van in the adjacent lane. Arm and a leg for a new battery and then $50 for a reg and all sorted.

I asked Mitsi to reduce the price actually and they did to $250 so am happy with that for a recon Alternator. Its lucky this was fixed asap cause continually undercharging and low current was reaking havoc on other electrical systems.

Well a further update, it appears my battery died on Tuesday. RAA man said when I told him of the alternator issue, that under or over charging a battery is a good way to kill the battery. SO given its around 4 years old anyway, it finally carked it. Lets just say when he test it, it had 1 volt in it!

New battery and were all set.

Paul

TJ magnas seem particularly prone to this issue. In mine, the engine died during driving. The brake boost went and my mother (who was driving) crashed.

The dealer seemed to thing a throttle body clean was the solution. In any event, same symptoms but more severe.

A good way to check these things is to connect a voltmeter to the battery with the engine off. Note the voltage reading. Should be around 12 volt. (fairly obviously). Then start the engine and watch the voltmeter reading rise. It WILL rise to 14.4 Volt IF the alternator is OK. If the thing doesnt do this then more investigation should be done.
Normally, the alternator regulator will keep the output voltage to 14.4 (adjusted slightly for temperature). As the charging load (and hence charging current) increases, the regulator will maintain the output voltage at 14.4 by increasing the field current in the alternator. If the field current has to be raised to too high a value, the regulator will sense this and limit the output current to a safe value.
rumpfy

Hey Folks,

Crusing along in my TJ VR-X and the battery light started flashing up, fading in and out.

My thoughts are it could be a regulator on the alternator, or perhaps the battery is on the way out.

Also, sometimes, not all the time, the TCL, ABS and Seat belt light also came up at the same time? Maybe the current issues caused those systems to say hows it going, not sure?

Anyone experienced this issue?

Boosty

Exactrly the same happened to me this week. Regulator replaced, plus new battery...old battery was 5 years old and the regulator killed it.
Alternator was overcharging at 15.5+ volts. Wife was driving and decided to ignore the battery light because she didn't know what it meant...<face palm>