| Author |
Message |
    
Charles Allen (Callen229)
| | Posted on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 09:14 pm: | 
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Two times in the last week the warning light that looks like a battery has come on. This happens right after start-up and stays on for about 5 min. The Haynes manual lists the possible problems could be: alternator brushes worn, springs loose or voltage regulator. Any suggestions where to go first? It is a 1994 Discovery with 132,000 miles. Thanks Charles |
Jack Quinlan (Jsq)
| | Posted on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 09:47 pm: |
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I'm about to tear down my BMW alternator to investigate all those possibilities. I don't have an indicator light but I'm getting a dimming in the displays and headlights. Do you have the same fade? |
OLIVER CLOTHSOFF (Everythingleaks)
| | Posted on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 10:54 pm: |
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Does the tach work at the time the light is on? |
Mike B.
| | Posted on Thursday, January 09, 2003 - 11:16 pm: |
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Are your belts are tight?
Also, put a voltage regulator on the battery and test it with the engine off (about 12.3 volts) and with the engine running (about 13 volts). If the voltage is low with engine off, the battery could be going bad. If it is low with the engine running, it could be the alternator going bad, loose belts, or one of the electrical connectors. The Discount Auto Parts stores here in Florida have a tester that will test your battery and alternator and they do it for free! I'm assuming the same goes true for other parts of the country.
Thanks,
Mike B. |
Charles Allen (Callen229)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 07:32 am: |
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Both times this has happened my wife has been driving, so I'm not sure about the tach. I will check the voltage on the battery. The belts are tight but have some cracks, time for a new belt at least. Thanks |
Ed Petrush (Exp3)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 10:37 am: |
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as much as I cringe to say this.. but if you have a Sears Automotive center near you.. go there they have a really good diagnostic machine for batteries & alternators. The cost is usually free but they will give you a print out of what your vehicle is doing.. standing volts (not running) starting draw (from battery & starter) and running draw (volts & amp draw)... this will at least give you some direction to what might be happening.
Good luck |
Ed Petrush (Exp3)
| | Posted on Friday, January 10, 2003 - 12:01 pm: |
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oh yeah... whatever sears finds out that might be wrong.. don't have them fix it.. walk away telling them you'll be back to have them fix and do it yourself.. the fancy electrical diagnostic system is great.. but their mechanics are not so good.. (at least in my opinion.... ) |
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