Battery Warning Light On

[Bash]

Can anyone help with some advise and info please,

 

I have a problem with my 96 Galaxy 1.9 TDi showing battery/charging light constantly on while engine running.

 

Problem started with speedo behaving erratically, followed next morning by a dead battery. after a new battery fitted all the instruments on the dash now behaving erratic (dash back lights flashing on/off, needles flicking up and down) but more so the speedo needle (around the clock and back again constant changing).

 

changed the speed sensor unit underneath the car on back of gearbox and initially no change, but while test driving the car after changing it and after turning on full lights and heated front and rear switches the sdials corrected themselves back to normal!, but i now have a constant red battery light showing while running.

 

Have checked the battery with meter and it shows 12.1 volts engine off, 12.3 volts on idle rising to 12.6 volts higher revs and down to 11.8 volts with all heated circuits and lights on. can also fluctuate up and down between these while reving and under load.

 

Am i looking at internal fault in alternator (are they servicable?) or complete new alternator unit?

 

Im also looking at replacing the drivebelt tensioner as i seem to have the dreaded noise from under the bonnet and the belt is jumping up and down at idle.

 

Your help would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks

[Masked Marauder]

There is a junction box near the battery somewhere, someone had the same problem and the fault was a bad connection in there and it melted in the end.

 

Someone help me guys, I can't remember all the details!

 

Could just be the drive belt stretched and slipping though.

[Andrew T]

'Twas I, and the details are here. I don't think it's the same problem though, which is why I didn't reply. The fuse that blew cuts off the alternator completely, yours seems to be giving a small charge but nothing like the 14.5V you should be getting.

[Andrew T]

That's good the hotlink isn't working. Search my posts, go to Page 3 and the second post down entitled "It Died" will lead you to the thread.

Briefly, to the left of the washer bottle neck there is a small fuse box which has a 150 amp fuse for the alternator which had blown. You need to replace the fuse box if this has happened.

[Masked Marauder]

I was on about a different thread tbh, it's here http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...=4205&hl=melted

[seatkid]

Your alternator is kaput...

[Topbloke]

i think that you have a possible bad earth, possibly engine to chassis or chassis to battery, usual tell tale sign is dash gauges "jumping about" if you have a set of jumpleads try connecting one lead to the earth post on the battery and connect the other end to a good clean place on the engine/gearbox see if that makes any difference if not try the same again but instead of connecting to engine/gearbox try the chassis "bonnet catch is good !" try that if still no good then get the alt checked out :lol:

[Bash]

Thanks for the advice guys, got the alternator out and checked out the bushes inside and they were totally worn away along with the contacts on the centre spindle. rang around for some quotes for a replacement unit and nearly had a heart attack! got quoted

[Masked Marauder]

I have a local automotive engineers near me who will re-true the commutator and fit new brushes for circa