Battery warning light

Binny · 28th May 2019, 16:09

When overtaking a lorry earlier today the battery warning light came on accompanied by ‘charging error’ warning message. I turned all electrics off and drove the five miles back to where we’re staying in Ribblesdale and noticed that when taking tight right hand bends at speed that the warning light would go off and then come on again after the bend.
Does this sound like it could be a poor connection somewhere or a terminal alternator failure? I’ve had a good look round the engine bay and can’t see anything obvious and because we’re on holiday I haven’t got any of my tools or multi meter with me so can’t really do much more.

bluebird · 28th May 2019, 16:44

Id nipninto a garage and get the voltage checked with a meter, you dont want to get stuck with a dead alternator.

markypicks · 28th May 2019, 16:52

check the connections make sure there nice and tight also as binny said call to a garage to make sure that the alternator is charging correctly if all is corrcect it may be that the battery is on the way out . how old is the battery rgds mark

Binny · 28th May 2019, 18:41

Thanks for your replies.
The battery is a recentish Bosch so I don’t think that’s the problem. The terminals are on firmly although I can twist them by hand if I push hard enough. The terminal on the starter where the leads from the battery and alternator attach can be moved more easily but I can’t tighten it any further as we’re on holiday and haven’t brought any tools or my multi meter.
To be fair the terminals have been like this for sometime since I rebuilt the starter without issue and the car starts without any problem and twisting them slightly has no effect on the battery warning light/charging.
The car has done 250,000 miles (diesel) so I’m thinking it could be the alternator although is it normal for it to go so suddenly?
Also anyone know roughly how far I might get in it with everything electrical turned off before the battery is completely flat?

COLVERT · 28th May 2019, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binny

Thanks for your replies.
The battery is a recentish Bosch so I don’t think that’s the problem. The terminals are on firmly although I can twist them by hand if I push hard enough. The terminal on the starter where the leads from the battery and alternator attach can be moved more easily but I can’t tighten it any further as we’re on holiday and haven’t brought any tools or my multi meter.
To be fair the terminals have been like this for sometime since I rebuilt the starter without issue and the car starts without any problem and twisting them slightly has no effect on the battery warning light/charging.
The car has done 250,000 miles (diesel) so I’m thinking it could be the alternator although is it normal for it to go so suddenly?
Also anyone know roughly how far I might get in it with everything electrical turned off before the battery is completely flat?

Your last line.--No answer to that as you won't know how much electricity is in the battery to start with.

Don't pull hard on those battery terminals as they are only anchored in plastic.--

250,000---??---That's like expecting a 90 year old man to run a 10 second 100 metres.----

trikey · 28th May 2019, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLVERT

Your last line.--No answer to that as you won't know how much electricity is in the battery to start with.

Don't hard on those battery terminals as they are only anchored in plastic.--

250,000---??---That's like expecting a 90 year old man to run a 10 second 100 metres.----

What's wrong with 250k? That's just run in!

HarryM1BYT · 30th May 2019, 06:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binny

Thanks for your replies.
The battery is a recentish Bosch so I don’t think that’s the problem. The terminals are on firmly although I can twist them by hand if I push hard enough. The terminal on the starter where the leads from the battery and alternator attach can be moved more easily but I can’t tighten it any further as we’re on holiday and haven’t brought any tools or my multi meter.
To be fair the terminals have been like this for sometime since I rebuilt the starter without issue and the car starts without any problem and twisting them slightly has no effect on the battery warning light/charging.
The car has done 250,000 miles (diesel) so I’m thinking it could be the alternator although is it normal for it to go so suddenly?
Also anyone know roughly how far I might get in it with everything electrical turned off before the battery is completely flat?

You should not be able to move any terminals when they are supposed to be tight.

There is an issue with the diesel giving a false charge warning light (1), which is probably your problem - but to be sure, you need to use a voltmeter to see what is happening. There is a voltmeter built into the dash diagnostics, but it might not be that accurate.

(1) You will need to search back through the forum for this and the fix..

Mike Noc · 30th May 2019, 08:08

Post #29 here.

Yorkshire GOC · 28th May 2019, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Binny

When overtaking a lorry earlier today the battery warning light came on accompanied by ‘charging error’ warning message. I turned all electrics off and drove the five miles back to where we’re staying in Ribblesdale and noticed that when taking tight right hand bends at speed that the warning light would go off and then come on again after the bend.
Does this sound like it could be a poor connection somewhere or a terminal alternator failure? I’ve had a good look round the engine bay and can’t see anything obvious and because we’re on holiday I haven’t got any of my tools or multi meter with me so can’t really do much more.

Sounds similar to what happened to me a few years ago- the battery positive lead had become loose on the battery post losing contact periodically.

Binny · 28th May 2019, 19:54

Thanks for the reply Yorkshire but the positive terminal is firmly on and I can’t think that the fact that I can twist it if I push really hard would mean it wouldn’t be a good enough contact to prevent it charging as it’s good enough for the car to start! It is strange the light goes of when taking right hand bends at speed though.

28th May 2019, 16:09	#1
Binny Newbie 75 tourer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Hull Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Battery warning light When overtaking a lorry earlier today the battery warning light came on accompanied by ‘charging error’ warning message. I turned all electrics off and drove the five miles back to where we’re staying in Ribblesdale and noticed that when taking tight right hand bends at speed that the warning light would go off and then come on again after the bend. Does this sound like it could be a poor connection somewhere or a terminal alternator failure? I’ve had a good look round the engine bay and can’t see anything obvious and because we’re on holiday I haven’t got any of my tools or multi meter with me so can’t really do much more.

28th May 2019, 16:44	#2
bluebird Passed Away Trophy Blue ZT T Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Bungay Posts: 460 Thanks: 508 Thanked 689 Times in 213 Posts	Id nipninto a garage and get the voltage checked with a meter, you dont want to get stuck with a dead alternator. __________________ I am Deb

28th May 2019, 16:52	#3
markypicks Gets stuck in rover 75 saloon cdt club se re map 160 bhp Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: sheffield Posts: 558 Thanks: 227 Thanked 169 Times in 135 Posts	check the connections make sure there nice and tight also as binny said call to a garage to make sure that the alternator is charging correctly if all is corrcect it may be that the battery is on the way out . how old is the battery rgds mark

28th May 2019, 18:41	#4
Binny Newbie 75 tourer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Hull Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks for your replies. The battery is a recentish Bosch so I don’t think that’s the problem. The terminals are on firmly although I can twist them by hand if I push hard enough. The terminal on the starter where the leads from the battery and alternator attach can be moved more easily but I can’t tighten it any further as we’re on holiday and haven’t brought any tools or my multi meter. To be fair the terminals have been like this for sometime since I rebuilt the starter without issue and the car starts without any problem and twisting them slightly has no effect on the battery warning light/charging. The car has done 250,000 miles (diesel) so I’m thinking it could be the alternator although is it normal for it to go so suddenly? Also anyone know roughly how far I might get in it with everything electrical turned off before the battery is completely flat?

30th May 2019, 08:08	#8
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,553 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	Post #29 here.

28th May 2019, 19:54	#10
Binny Newbie 75 tourer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Hull Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks for the reply Yorkshire but the positive terminal is firmly on and I can’t think that the fact that I can twist it if I push really hard would mean it wouldn’t be a good enough contact to prevent it charging as it’s good enough for the car to start! It is strange the light goes of when taking right hand bends at speed though.