Ongoing electrical problems

tomsk · Post by **tomsk** » Sat May 26, 2007 11:42 am

Still looking for help out there, please.

Sludge light and charging light still staying on. On a good run of speed they may go out, but back again on tickover.
Bongo still running and battery ok. So I don't think it is the alternator?
However could the alternator be under or overcharging, does anyone know.
Also can anyone tell me, what the sludge light is for, and what should I do when it comes on, presumably change the oil?

With thanks

Tomsk

neil/di · Post by **neil/di** » Sat May 26, 2007 12:05 pm

tomks I think the sludge light is to do with the fuel filter needing to be changed I think it happens when you get water building up in the fuel filter but \i am prepared to be told that this not so
Neil

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Sat May 26, 2007 9:04 pm

underneath your FUEL filter is a water trap. Your sediment light will come on when this needs draining. May as well put a new FUEL filter on whilst your about it.(nothing to do with oil filter) However if, as you say you have 2x warning lights that are playing up exactly at the same times I think you must have a electrical problem or a bad earth. To check your alternator is charging put a voltmeter across your battery terminals and with the engine running it should read about 14,2 volts..

tomsk · Post by **tomsk** » Sun May 27, 2007 1:33 am

Thanking you Niel and Haydn.
Where do I find the fuel filter please?

Regards

Tomsk

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Sun May 27, 2007 8:38 am

Lift the drivers seat and it's there by your left leg, looks like a oil filter, Unplug the wires that goes to the bottom and then unscrew the plastic base to drain the Water/sediment

Chris P · Post by **Chris P** » Sun May 27, 2007 9:18 am

Tomsk wrote at the start of this thread:
>Sludge light and charging light still staying on

Haydn Callow wrote:
>underneath your FUEL filter is a water trap...
> However if, as you say you have 2x warning lights that are playing up >exactly at the same times I think you must have a electrical problem or a >bad earth.

Tomsk later wrote:
>Where do I find the fuel filter please?

My advice is worry about your charging first - if it was JUST the sediment light then I'd start with the fuel filter, but with both of them on, the likelihood is that you have charging problems (sediment light coming on when not charging properly is a known symptom of not charging).

The way you describe the behaviour of the warning lights, you are getting some charge (and maybe enough to keep your battery charged until you need to start using your lights a lot)...

So I'd take it to your local electrical place to have a look at it.

Cheers

Chris

johnzbenson · Post by **johnzbenson** » Sun May 27, 2007 11:22 am

A simple test is to get a suitable DC voltmeter and apply across the battery terminals : with the engine off the battery should read between 12.25 and 13 Volts. and with the enigine running the voltage reading should read between 13.8 and 14.4 volts representing a healthy charge characteristic.
when doing these tests ensure there are no heavy loads on the battery -air con/ heated screen lights etc.

tomsk · Post by **tomsk** » Mon May 28, 2007 1:35 pm

Thanking you all for your help on this matter.
I have tested my output from the alternator across the battery terminals, and it remains at 12 volts whether I rev the engine or not.
It also does not make any difference if I put a load on it, so I think the alternator is probably suspect.

Thanking you all again.

Tomsk

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Mon May 28, 2007 4:05 pm

Check the voltage output at the alternator. If nothing then fair enough a replacement alternator is required, If you get a good output reading then the wireing/connections to the battery are suspect.

Ongoing electrical problems

Ongoing electrical problems

Alternator charging or not