Dim battery light

pete_mills · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject: Dim battery light

My battery light on the S3 (3.5 V8 ) is beginning to glow when I switch on more new fangled gizmos (ie heater and wipers!). The more I switch on the more it glows but its completely off when its idling. The battery is topped up and holds a charge and the belt is tight so I'm guessing I need a new or recon alternator.

The alternator is an A133-65 alternator. Is it worth using that one or shall I look for an 80 amp jobby if I ever get round to convincing the misses that I need a winch?!

Also, are some better than others? Ive found some at £70 ish new, and some well over a ton!

Any advice would be grand.
Pete

mnl · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject:

If you have a vee belt drive, stick with the 65Amp. That will happily set the belt on fire with slight slippage, the 80 would do a better job Shocked

If you have a serpentine belt, you can go over 100Amp.

Ray_Jnr · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject:

the diode pack may be starting to fail on the back of the altonator. if your handy with a soldering iron its a pretty easy job to swap them over with some cheap bits from maplin

pete_mills · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject:

Sounds like a good idea, i'll try the diode pack, got nothing to lose by having a go!
Cheers,
Pete

Simon Brookes · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject:

Before you do that try cleaning any corrosion from any contacts in your charging circuit. Had a series lightweight with this fault that remained after I had changed the alternator...lesson learned!

gripper · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject:

some alternators, i can't remember which make, have a regulator/rectifier or diode [ack that just unscrews off the back of the alternator, this can easily be replaced as a unit rather than having to replace the whole alternator.
have a look on the back,if it's the right sort there will be a couple of screws and some nuts holding it on.