Ok this might seem like a dumb question,

but in my TF wagon, for the past 2 weeks the battery warning light will come on, but then disappear, sometimes it will stay on other times is pops on and off randomly, and it affects the temp gauge as well... but my question is, could it be that the alternator is failing? or a loose wire somewhere perhaps, the battery is only 1 month old and all the fuses are fine...

yeah mate alternator, mine went a couple of weeks ago too:rant:

Just looked at your DP, i think you were the guy I bought that gearbox off about a week ago...

But yeah, oh well, that will be my next item on the list of car things I need to do, first the buckled wheel on my celsior, now a new alternator for the magna, along with fixing an oil leak, paint etc... but its part and parcel of owning a car lol...

Mine did the same a few years ago except I ignored it thinking it was the battery and it went on a rainy night, so I had the headlights & wipers on and it couldn't cope with the extra drain, had to get towed home as it wasn't safe to drive... :redface:

And even though NRMA do a free installation it ain't really free... the price fitted was $380... I went to repco and bought a brand new one for $240

Mine did the same a few years ago except I ignored it thinking it was the battery and it went on a rainy night, so I had the headlights & wipers on and it couldn't cope with the extra drain, had to get towed home as it wasn't safe to drive... :redface:

And even though NRMA do a free installation it ain't really free... the price fitted was $380... I went to repco and bought a brand new one for $240

I paid $30 for a second hand one from a wrecker. Had it in for a year(ish) now. Even was lucky enough to find one that looked as though it had just been put into the car cause it was still shiny and clean and had the sticker from the place that put it in.
$240 is ridiculous!

$240 is actually pretty darn good for a brand newie, usual price is around the 300ish mark from memory, also something to look at is the regulator on the rear of the alternator, or you can always get your old one overhauled, which is new bearings, shaft, and packs, usually sets you around 120-160 fitted by an electrican.

Your alternator brushes are wearing. You need to replace the regulator (part of the alternator, and the part which the brushes are attatched to). It's not a difficult job if you're mechanically minded, just a bugger to get to.

A workmate had the same trouble only a month ago, and I still haven't replaced my regulator (slack bugger that I am...)

I wanted to reco mine but didn't have a car and didn't have the time to wait for it to be fixed. So I had to cough up the money... :cry:

It was also a good price after ringing around as the same alternator from Mitsu was $380... which made NRMA look good and the $240 look damn good.

Too many people drop in reg packs to cure the worn bruhes but do not resurface the armature and end up with an alternater that just dies again 12 months later

The poster with the TR, what do you expect, these are a dime a dozen in the wreckers, third gen run a totally different alternator and are not as easy to come across.

$250 ish is a great price for a newbie, 150ish is what you would expect to pay for a reco.