Brake Warning Lights And Eratic Tacho 1.9tdi

[Trig]

Sorry if this has been covered already.

 

After a short journey I tried to restart the car. Engine would not turn over. Seemed like a flat battery but the battery had plenty of life in it. At times, when trying to start, the needles on all 4 clocks went all the way round and then back again. Sometimes I could hear the stater solenoid? clicking. After about 20 mins it started again as normal.

 

Although the car starts and runs ok I am now left with:

 

1) a half illuminated brake warning light ie. about half the brightness as when the hand brake is on. This stays on when the ignition is on.

 

2) a tacho that jumps about a lot when it gets up to about 2000rpm.

 

3) an ABS warning light that flicks on again usually after about 2000rpm.

 

Brake lights are working ok.

 

Any ideas.

 

Does a 1999 90bhp 1.9TDI have ABS? :)

[anadin]

sounds like bad connection on the battery/alternater or starter motor checking earths too

[mumof4]

my first thought was alternator...have you checked this?

[Guest gooner52]

so when its starts again after 20mins

 

are you getting a battery warning light comming on

 

do you have a after market alarm fitted to the car

 

could well be a bad connection,what volts are you getting when she is running

 

will at least tell you the alternator is charging ok

 

let us know how u get on

[Trig]

The failing to start has only occured once. I have not recharged the battery and over the last few days the car has been starting and running just fine. If it was the alternator failing, wouldn't I be having problems with a run down battery by now?

 

The battery warning light isn't comming on.

 

I do not have an aftermarket alarm fitted.

 

Would a bad connection to the starter motor/alternator give these warning lights and tacho symptoms?

[anadin]

The failing to start has only occured once. I have not recharged the battery and over the last few days the car has been starting and running just fine. If it was the alternator failing, wouldn't I be having problems with a run down battery by now?

 

The battery warning light isn't comming on.

 

I do not have an aftermarket alarm fitted.

 

Would a bad connection to the starter motor/alternator give these warning lights and tacho symptoms?

 

could be a bad earth/connection anywhere but its best to eliminate these first

[Guest gooner52]

i would check to se whats volts are be putting in to the battery ,with the engine running

[Trig]

OK. I will try and have a look tonight.

[tim-spam]

If your alternator was failing, the battery would go flat, which would rule this out - but check the voltage anyway just to be sure. This really does sound like a poor connection / earth somewhere, involving the starter or battery connections.

[NikpV]

wonder whether the either the voltage regulator for the clocks (if gals have one - or maybe a capacitor in regulator circuit) is starting to go u/s or if it doesn't have one and is purely ecu driven whether resetting the ecu by disconnecting the battery for an hour would help sort it - (if you try this make sure you have your radio code though)

[Trig]

I have checked the voltage and it is 13.9 at tick over (about 1000rpm) and 13.5 volts at tick over when loaded with fan on full, lights on, front and rear demistor on, indicator on. ls this ok?

[NikpV]

reckon so

[Guest gooner52]

yes thats great volts your getting there

:D

[Trig]

wonder whether the either the voltage regulator for the clocks (if gals have one - or maybe a capacitor in regulator circuit) is starting to go u/s or if it doesn't have one and is purely ecu driven whether resetting the ecu by disconnecting the battery for an hour would help sort it - (if you try this make sure you have your radio code though)

 

This sounds easy enough to try out but I had hoped the warning lights would have meant something definitive to someone. :D

 

Went out after dark tonight and could also detect the speedo fluctuating slightly and the back light of the mileometer panel was altering in brightness.

 

Seems to be one thing after another with the Galaxy at the moment and Fords want

[Guest gooner52]

thats frauds 4 u :D

[Trig]

I disconnected the battery at lunch time and then reconnected. Unfortunately it didn't change any thing. I did learn that when the ignition is first turned on after battery reconnection, the 4 clocks all spin all the way round and back. The same way they have done when the car has refused to turn over. So presumably power wasn't getting through to the ECU????

[seatkid]

Anadin is right. It is probably a bad earth. Remove the battery and check the negative strap where it is connected to the chassis. Undo this, clean and refasten. This problem has been reported on the forum a number of times before and is due to corrosion.

[Trig]

Anadin is right. It is probably a bad earth. Remove the battery and check the negative strap where it is connected to the chassis. Undo this, clean and refasten. This problem has been reported on the forum a number of times before and is due to corrosion.

 

I don't understand. I thought if the battery wasn't earthed the lights and other electrical items wouldn't work. Is this wrong? ;)

[anadin]

Anadin is right. It is probably a bad earth. Remove the battery and check the negative strap where it is connected to the chassis. Undo this, clean and refasten. This problem has been reported on the forum a number of times before and is due to corrosion.

 

I don't understand. I thought if the battery wasn't earthed the lights and other electrical items wouldn't work. Is this wrong? :)

 

groundhog day part 2 :) , your battery is earthed, as sk has also said , bad connection, remove clean up & replace , all earth staps/connections ,as winter is approaching i would do the same with the alternater & starter, once this is done , if prob still there report back

[Trig]

Anadin is right. It is probably a bad earth. Remove the battery and check the negative strap where it is connected to the chassis. Undo this, clean and refasten. This problem has been reported on the forum a number of times before and is due to corrosion.

 

I don't understand. I thought if the battery wasn't earthed the lights and other electrical items wouldn't work. Is this wrong? :D

 

groundhog day part 2 :) , your battery is earthed, as sk has also said , bad connection, remove clean up & replace , all earth staps/connections ,as winter is approaching i would do the same with the alternater & starter, once this is done , if prob still there report back

 

I thought it was a simple enough question :) Yes or no will do :D

[anadin]

Anadin is right. It is probably a bad earth. Remove the battery and check the negative strap where it is connected to the chassis. Undo this, clean and refasten. This problem has been reported on the forum a number of times before and is due to corrosion.

 

I don't understand. I thought if the battery wasn't earthed the lights and other electrical items wouldn't work. Is this wrong? :D

 

groundhog day part 2 :) , your battery is earthed, as sk has also said , bad connection, remove clean up & replace , all earth staps/connections ,as winter is approaching i would do the same with the alternater & starter, once this is done , if prob still there report back

 

I thought it was a simple enough question :D Yes or no will do :D

:D yes but the man flu took over :)

[Trig]

Right, I've got the battery out but I cannot see where the cable connects to the chassis. Where does it connect and what if anything do I have to remove to get to it?

[NikpV]

whatever you do don't remove the battery tray without supporting engine/gearbox :lol: sorry can't help further - since I'm at work

[Trig]

whatever you do don't remove the battery tray without supporting engine/gearbox :lol: sorry can't help further - since I'm at work

 

I thought those bolt heads looked a bit big for a battery tray ^_^

 

Earth point is under the tray as shown on page 5A.2 of Haynes. Not easy to get to.

[anadin]

whatever you do don't remove the battery tray without supporting engine/gearbox :lol: sorry can't help further - since I'm at work

 

I thought those bolt heads looked a bit big for a battery tray ^_^

 

Earth point is under the tray as shown on page 5A.2 of Haynes. Not easy to get to.

 

it may not help , but will it be easier to take out headlight ? ive never done one on a galaxy so carnt remember , should also be one on the gearbox, hope you get it sorted