Warning lights

S

Sharpy1975

Member
Hey, had some weird things happen on the way home today.

Car drove faultless to Work, no traffic. Then on the way home got stick in traffic and warning lights kept flashing on and off, so quick I couldn't make any out apart from steering wheel. I'm pretty sure my radio has lost its channels too. Once out the traffic the car was fine again.

Any ideas?

Many thanks.
 
Ok, battery checked.

After leaving car overnight that voltage was 12.26. Car was driven for about 3 hours yesterday.

When I run the engine and turn fan, heated seats, wipes radio etc...the volts flickers between 14.36 - 14.54. Any ideas chaps?

One thing I did notice is both leads were a tad loose. You could pull them off with loosening the nut.
 
Sharpy1975 said:
Ok, battery checked.

............Any ideas chaps? One thing I did notice is both leads were a tad loose. You could pull them off with loosening the nut.
Click to expand...

Your charging volts sound right but you really want a minimum of 12.4v static over the battery so is worth monitoring, but I think you may have the answer with a loose lead. I'd tighten it up and monitor the situation.

It's also worth checking for any electric connections that may have been meddled with (accessory feeds, audio etc) as someone has probably undone the battery to work on something and not clamped up properly, they don't go loose on their own.
 
Sharpy1975 said:
Ok, battery checked.

After leaving car overnight that voltage was 12.26. Car was driven for about 3 hours yesterday.

When I run the engine and turn fan, heated seats, wipes radio etc...the volts flickers between 14.36 - 14.54. Any ideas chaps?

One thing I did notice is both leads were a tad loose. You could pull them off with loosening the nut.
Click to expand...
Minor voltage fluctuations are normal as you turn on and off accessories
I think those lose terminals will be the issue alongside a new battery.
When terminals are loose they get warmer, such as sitting in traffic, accessories on, etc. they don’t conduct as well and can cause all sorts of issues. It won’t stop the car as it’s running on alternator, but it momentarily cuts the battery out the loop.
Try cleaning and making sure they are secure.
Battery itself is also weak as it needs to be 12.6 so that wants replacing. 12.2 is only 60% charged
 
Cheers guys. I ran the car for a bit today and the battery did charge up to 12.70(Once I turned the car off and tested). But that is dropping pretty quick after just 25 mins, 12.40. I guess when the car is moving at 70mph the battery is being charged nicely, when you stuck in traffic I guess it charges slower, hence the messages only when slow moving etc....or is that completely wrong - lol.

How tight should the terminals be?
 
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