SEDIMENT & CHARGE LIGHTS

[Bonsi007]

Hello,
I have just had a new alternator fitted as the last one packed up plus I have a new split relay fitted as the old one was also taking charge from the main battery, and 2 new batteries.
Before the alternator was replaced, the sediment and battery charge light came on, and stayed on, I thought that when the new alternator was fitted this would turn off, but they are still on (but not as bright as the hand break warning light) could anyone tell me what the problem could be? the battery is now chucking out enough power and everything worksd fine.
The guy at the auto electrician said it could be something to do with the wireing and not to worry about it??

Cheers

Simon

[dandywarhol]

If it's a split charge relay which taps into the charging circuit then they can be prone to causing the lights to glow.
If it's an automatic voltage sensing type (better IMO) then I can't help.

[mikeonb4c]

I've read - as Dandy has said - that a split charge relay that takes it's feed from the alternator causes the alternator light to remain on (dimly) permanently). So people fit the voltage sensing type that doesn't require this feed.

[Bonsi007]

Thanks for this, is it actually a problem to have the light on?
Kind regards
Simon.

[Bonsi007]

Well, I think you are right NEVER ignore warning lights, I should not have picked my Bongo up from the Auto Lecky with the lights on...... Today, I set out to go to Banbury, got all the way to Oxford services and just before indicating to go in the rev counter stopped working, then the speedo went, then the radio, so a very king Bongo owner (Thank you Mr blue Bongo owner from Derby area) gave me a jump. This got me back onto the M40, but within seconds, steam was pouring out of the front grill and the temp gauge was at it's hottest. Turned out that the new alternator's drive shaft thingy (the bit that connects to the belt) had come off, lost on the M40, so my batteries were not charging and the fan was not cooling the engine! 12 hours later and X3 AA men I have made it back to Kent minus my Bongo which is stuck in SE London...Not a happy owner tonight

[dandywarhol]

Bad news The fans would work as they're electric but the water pump wouldn't as it's driven from the belts. Hopefully the fans saved the engine

[Bonsi007]

Luckly, I noticed the problem after aboout 30 seconds and pulled straight off on to the hard shoulder and turned the engine off straight away. Lots of steam was pouring out, but this stopped as soon as the engine was turned off, but it was bloo*y hot under in there! I hope it has not caused any other damage It's just really annoying when only the day before I had just spent £237.5 on getting the alternator fixed!
She is back with the auto electrictian today,so I am hoping to get her back by the weekend

[mikeonb4c]

Luckly, I noticed the problem after aboout 30 seconds and pulled straight off on to the hard shoulder and turned the engine off straight away. Lots of steam was pouring out, but this stopped as soon as the engine was turned off, but it was bloo*y hot under in there! I hope it has not caused any other damage It's just really annoying when only the day before I had just spent £237.5 on getting the alternator fixed!
She is back with the auto electrictian today,so I am hoping to get her back by the weekend

Woa! You mean to say that the cause was the same part the garage had worked on for you a few days previously. Naughty naughty if so. We've just had another alternator pulley detach on this forum (see other recent thread) - seems a strange coincidence. I'm no mechanic, but is it possible that overtightening belts could cause this to happen (not heard of it before but...)?

Hope you get it sorted. It will be interesting to see what the garage who fixed the alternator have to say

[Bonsi007]

YES! but they are say that they never worked on that part of the alternator, they tell me that they only fitted a new bit to the back, I don't know enough about them to know if this is true or not, but he did say they will sort it for me which is the main thing. The AA man said it looks as though it has been played around with.... just going to wait and see what they say.

[dandywarhol]

Keep your eye on them bonsi - £237 is a helluva lot for just "a bit on the back" which sounds to me like a replacement diode pack!

Unless of course, you had more work done for that price...................

Mike - overtightening the belts is more liable to cause bearing wear on the pump and alternator than shearing the pulley IMO. The pulley shearing could be caused by poor assembly with a bit of dirt/foreign body behind the pulley face where it mates to the shaft.

[mikeonb4c]

Mike - overtightening the belts is more liable to cause bearing wear on the pump and alternator than shearing the pulley IMO. The pulley shearing could be caused by poor assembly with a bit of dirt/foreign body behind the pulley face where it mates to the shaft.

Thought that would probably be the case, but worth asking

[Bonsi007]

Well, thre is a happy ending to this story just picked her up today, and as promised, they sorted her out and she is back up and running... However, I now need to do a new post as whilst I was driving back at a comfortable 70 mph, she suddenly went into 3rd gear and the hold started to flash, I then limped all the way home. I am sure that leaving her for a hour or two she will be fine, but this problem is happening on a more feequent basis.... Starting to get worried