Flat battery and flashing orange light!

[Sheila-C]

Hi, new member with a problem!

edit - it's the glow plug warning light, not ignition light, sorry.



I've had an M reg Freda for over 4 years, no problems so far and then a couple of weeks ago I went to start it up and it was completely dead, flat battery. (It's got 2 batteries)

Home Start got it going and told me to go for a ride to charge it up, which I did, but the orange ignition light had started flashing all the time I was driving. I took it to a local garage who couldn't find anything wrong, the battery was charging fine etc, and they thought it might just be because the battery had gone flat and a code was needed to stop the flashing, but they didn't know what it was.

I've used it a few times since for mainly short journeys, the last time was 2 days ago for a 30 mile round trip, with the ignition light flashing all the time. And today it's completely dead again.


I could get 2 new batteries I suppose, but the flashing light is worrying me and I don't want to get new batteries if that's not the problem. I will take it back to the garage but wanted to find out any possible reasons for it first as the garage didn't know before. Any ideas what the problem could be?

Thanks

[mikeonb4c]

Hi, new member with a problem!

I've had an M reg Freda for over 4 years, no problems so far and then a couple of weeks ago I went to start it up and it was completely dead, flat battery. (It's got 2 batteries)

Home Start got it going and told me to go for a ride to charge it up, which I did, but the orange ignition light had started flashing all the time I was driving. I took it to a local garage who couldn't find anything wrong, the battery was charging fine etc, and they thought it might just be because the battery had gone flat and a code was needed to stop the flashing, but they didn't know what it was.

I've used it a few times since for mainly short journeys, the last time was 2 days ago for a 30 mile round trip, with the ignition light flashing all the time. And today it's completely dead again.


I could get 2 new batteries I suppose, but the flashing light is worrying me and I don't want to get new batteries if that's not the problem. I will take it back to the garage but wanted to find out any possible reasons for it first as the garage didn't know before. Any ideas what the problem could be?

Thanks

Welcome Sheila-C. I don't have the manual to hand but assuming the ignition light doubles as the charge warning light, then maybe your alternator is on the way out. If it's a bit intermittent then perhaps the garage didn't spot the problem. Also it could (I guess though I'd expect the Bongo to be making squealing noises if so, and maybe to be displayng other symptoms) be that your belts are loose so the alternator is not turning properly.

No doubt some cleverer owners will be along shortly with their thoughts. Good luck - keep us posted.

Mike

[Peg leg Pete]

Sounds like a alternator starting to pack up

[Sheila-C]

Sorry, it's not ignition light, it's the glow plug warning light

[Peg leg Pete]

Thats what I thought you meant, thats the same light that flashed when our alternator failed

[westonwarrior]

Is your second battery a starter or is it a leisure battery?

[missfixit70]

Check your no 1 fuse top left by your right knee.
if you have acces to a voltmeter, see if its putting out high end of 13 -14+ volts with the engine running accross the battery terminals (once you've got it jump started or batteries charged obviously) dropping to 12.5+ v with the engine off. See if it then holds this voltage, it may be that one of the batteries is duff if they're connected in parallel? You don't need two batteries to start the bongo in this country, so one decent battery will work fine, unless you want a leisure battery set up for when you're camping.

[mikeonb4c]

Sorry, it's not ignition light, it's the glow plug warning light

Peg leg Pete's right I think (from dim memory!) - the light doubles up as a glow plug warning light and a charging circuit light. Kirsty (Missfixit70s) advice is (as ever) spot on. I wouldn't assume the garage did competent or comprehensive diagnostic checks

[westonwarrior]

Thats why I ask if the second battery is a leisure or starter

I would check the second battery for charging and holding the charge if its a starter disconnect it and see what happens

If its a leisure battery replace it and see.

I fitted a leisure battery last week and connected the radio, kitchen, lights to it and all was well for a few days then funny things started happening, cutting a long story short the earth was not clean enough so the leisure battery was not charging which gave similar symptoms.

so check the condition of both batteries and the fuse before spending out on a new alternator.

[Sheila-C]

Thanks everyone A friend is coming over in the morning to have a look and we'll follow your advice

The garage do have several Bongos on their books so hopefully know what they're doing, but now I know what to suggest to them

Will update here when I know more.

x

[Sheila-C]

Sorry, not certain about the second battery but I think it's a leisure battery

[missfixit70]

I reckon best advice is to get in touch with Allans, advertise on the home page of the main site here, based in Plymouth, top bloke, knows what he's talking about & won't mess you about.

[haydn callow]

I would guess that your altenator is defective and not charging the battries as it should. The flashing light is telling you this.
Get Bongo running and put a volt meter across the battery terminals...it should read 14.5 volts approx...if not then it is the alternator....you could make sure all the battery terminals are good and tight.
Probably time for new battries as well and with a replacement alternator you should be good for a few more years.

[bigdaddycain]

Sorry, not certain about the second battery but I think it's a leisure battery

Hi sheila, imagine you are sat in the bongo... Look above your right knee... You will see a switch with "rear" on it (if you have normal manual aircon) Is there a blank switch next to that? Or a switch with a picture of an engine on it?

[Sheila-C]

Hi everyone, the battery has been recharged and one of the terminal (?) thingies has been replaced because it was broken, and it's now all working and the orange light has stopped flashing.

I'll see how it goes for now but am prepared for new batteries/alternator if it happens again.

Thanks for the help