"Battery charge current" light intermittent

IAmOrion

IAmOrion

Senior member
 Cambridge, UK
Wondering if anyone got any advise or ideas for me to check / double check.

So my starter motor packed up the other day - I replaced it and also replaced my coolant expansion tank at the same time.

All went smoothly, however, since doing it, my "Battery charge current" light comes on after about half hour or so of driving. If I stop and restart, the light goes off and doesn't appear for another good half hour or so. I've checked the 2 +ve wires that are attached to the starter motor and they seem solid. Is there something else I should be checking? I really don't want to head it's the bloody alternator packed or packing up too - I've literally spent a small fortune the last couple of weeks! :roll:

(Some of it was a complete service, so oil filter, cabin filter, air filter, spark plugs, oil change, rocker cover gasket was done, brakes were done - copper pipes were replaced as well as the rubber bits. That was all done by my very good friend, The car was fine for a few days then the starter motor died... I changed the starter motor myself and coolant tank, and I'm worried I've caught something somewhere! I should've just let my mechanic friend do it ha)

FWIW the car does NOT overheat so not sure if it'd be a defective belt (going by what the manual says). I used BMW coolant from dealer and distilled water 1:1 when changing the expansion tank

Many thanks in advance
 
Scooba_Steve said:
Check battery and leads but my money would be on alternator.
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I did already check leads, BUT, I will triple check ... urgh, I'm too scared to look up alternator prices :cry:
 
If you have a basic voltmeter, check the voltage across the battery (or on charge point under bonnet) when the light comes on. If it's dropping from around 13.8V - 14.4V to approx 12.5V then you have a genuine alternator charge issue. If not, it could just be a dodgy wire.
 
ph001 said:
If you have a basic voltmeter, check the voltage across the battery (or on charge point under bonnet) when the light comes on. If it's dropping from around 13.8V - 14.4V to approx 12.5V then you have a genuine alternator charge issue. If not, it could just be a dodgy wire.
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Good thinking, I'll give that a go thanks.

I did check the voltage with engine running and it was around 14.4v, although I had to rush off to work, so at the time I tested it, the light was NOT on (I was on the drive, the light was on, I had turned off the car for about 30 seconds, then started the engine, so the light was now off) - but I will be sure to check the voltage next time that light is on!
 
Scooba_Steve said:
Does it flicker, come on briefly and go off or just come on and stay on for a bit?
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Comes on and stays on until I turn off the car and restart.
 
OK that's weird and doesn't sound like connections (I'd expect intermittent). Worth putting the meter across when/if it does it again.
 
Scooba_Steve said:
OK that's weird and doesn't sound like connections (I'd expect intermittent). Worth putting the meter across when/if it does it again.
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My mechanic friend has suggested that I may have caught a wire when I refitted, or got the alternator wire too close to the starter motor earths or starter motor body, and so once the car is running and moving, the vibration can make it touch and short to earth. Won't get to look until tomorrow so will report back tomorrow afternoon
 
Not sure that explains the turn off and it's fine again behaviour you described, unless I've got the wrong end of the stick.
 
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