Hey guys,

Lately my battery light has been turning on for a little while, then going away (today it stayed on for about 10 minutes), battery is a brand new extra heavy duty huge mofo $170 thing I got very recently.

I suspect the alternater is playing up, how can I verify this, and if its not this any other suggestions for things to check?

Cheers,
Dean

Multimeter on the batt....... when the light is on..

Have you checked connections etc. on the alternator

I would also recommend you disconnect the battery before performing any electrical work, a lesson I learned the hard way AGAIN today..... extra 2hrs of frigging round changing blown fuses

Multimeter on the batt....... when the light is on..

Have you checked connections etc. on the alternator

Multimeter on the batt is going to show a reading no matter what pete!

Havent checked anything really...

yeah but if your alternator isnt working, your voltage will be at or slightly below 12v

if the alt is working properly, it will be up around 13.5-13.8v

Take it to your local Battery world of Auto elec's and get them to do a load test on the alternator, will show up pretty quickly if its the battery, alt or cabling.

Don't suppose they'll do this for free?

Don't suppose they'll do this for free?

Yeah they will test it for free. it takes a few seconds. they will use a multimeter..:)

i had this recently, was the regulator on the alt. only took em 10mins to swap it over, cost me 40bucks

how many k's on your car life?
most prob the regulator

how many k's on your car life?
most prob the regulator

Nearing on 300000km i think?

Yep, 282,000.

What battery did you put in there?

possible that the alt could be worn out, the bushes dont last forever

Yeah they will test it for free. it takes a few seconds. they will use a multimeter..:)

Nope...they will use a carbon pile load tester. Very different to a multimeter.

Sounds like either a connection on the back of the alt (happened to me) or the alt is on its way out. Take it to an auto elec and have them suss it out.

Yeah, I wouldnt blame the battery, would be the alternator, exact same thing happened in both our magnas

I had the same thing, the light was going on & off, & one day it just wouldnt disappear, barely made it to the mechanic, my car had about 210k at that time, it migh be just the regulator though, you might be lucky....

i thought the battery light came on when there was a problem with the charging system?

i thought the battery light came on when there was a problem with the charging system?

Correct....meaning there is a problem within the alternator....

;1134795']Nope...they will use a carbon pile load tester. Very different to a multimeter.


They will hit it with a multimeter first to find out if there was an issue. They they will play hardball..:)

I have the same problem with my sisters te, how hard is it to replace the regulator? Is there a 'how to' thread that I've missed? What's involved?