Battery light

[Rob88]

The red battery light on the dash is staying on,the car starts and runs ok. Any ideas??

[Jay4424]

It wont for long!


light comes on normally when the battery charge is higher than that coming out of the alt... meanning your not charging your batt!

[Risocco]

Should Indicate theres a fault somewhere such as a broken alternator belt.

Alex

[Rob88]

The belt and wiring seem ok,it's been like it for a while now and the power in the battery hasn't droped.

[Nate]

you have an alternator or wiring problem. needs repairing before it leaves you stuck on the roadside. could be the brushes are starting to go on the alt.

what voltage do you have with the engine running and the headlights on?

[Rob88]

Just over 12 volts.

[Nate]

should be around 14. just whack a 2nd hand complete unit on there

[Rob88]

No sciroccos in the scrappies here,do any other car alternators fit?

[Nate]

have you tried the for sale/wanted section of the forum?

[ianaudia4]

I have a spare alternator, BOSCH. Are you at North Weald on Sunday, I can bring along for you.

[Rob88]

o.k replaced the regulator in the alternator--same problem,replaced the alternator--same problem,checked the wiring,all o.k---same problem,could it maybe just a fault with the light?

[Rob88]

problem solved.
The guy at my local spares place had a word with VW who said that,as I have a 62ah battery and a 45ah alternator the alternator would be working it's nuts off and the light would still be on.So got a 65ah alternator and problem solved.
He also said that although some vehicles had 45ah as standard they should only really have been on engines up to 1300cc.

[ianaudia4]

Most Sciroccos were fitted with a 45 or 55 amp alternator and 43 or 53 ah battery. The later cars had a 90 amp alternator, when they came with a bit more electrical kit. The size of the engine does not have any bearing on the alternator, it is the amount of electrical kit on the car.

[Rob88]

Only relaying what the VW technician said,not my opinion I am only a lowly spanner monkey.

[steve]

Most Sciroccos were fitted with a 45 or 55 amp alternator and 43 or 53 ah battery. The later cars had a 90 amp alternator, when they came with a bit more electrical kit. The size of the engine does not have any bearing on the alternator, it is the amount of electrical kit on the car.

Sort of, bigger engines put more load on the starter, so ought to have a bigger battery behind them, so a stronger alternator. In his case, he's running an uprated battery that the alternator can't keep up with.

I think it's my rural upbringing that does it, but I'm also of the school of thought that goes "stick the biggest battery on it that'll fit and it won't let you down".

I've had the problem now and then, like when I found that 1.05 litre polos don't like charging boot-mounted transit batteries