Car Help (battery/alternator)

[Chubbs]

a few weeks ago my car dies so got the AA out, gave the battery a bit of juice but informed me it will require a new one, as the charge will only last a few days, A week had passed and was still going but thought i'd get a battery and keep it in the car just incase, About 10 days ago the battery warning light appears and killed all the electrics on the car (windows etc) im guessing as an energy saving measure (clever thing) I managed to drive it like this for a week and finaly it gave up, so i swapped the battery but the issue still remains the battery warning light is still on, and electrics dead. I've given it a good run around.

Could this be anything other than the alternator in this case?

And who knows the best place to go to get it fixed?

[herthab]

A garage.

[Chubbs]

A garage.

do you want another beating?

smartass. :-p

[Chubbs]

also, can someone move this to the general forum.

[magicroundabout]

he's right though. you need to take it to your local dealer/service place and get the computer reset.

cost will be about £25 i would have thought

[Chubbs]

he's right though. you need to take it to your local dealer/service place and get the computer reset.

cost will be about £25 i would have thought

ahh, didint know that, cheers.

[magicroundabout]

what car is it out of interest?

[Chubbs]

pug 306 1.8xs

[Samdy Gray]

You did charge the new battery first, right?

[magicroundabout]

if it's brand new he shouldn't need too.

unless the alternator isn't charging it but then the alternator also regulates the power to the lights etc so if it went your lights would go bright.

[Chubbs]

You did charge the new battery first, right?

isnt that the job of the alternator anyway? ive been driving it around for a few days now.

[Samdy Gray]

Some batteries need a charge before you put them in. The alternator won't charge it from flat, it just keeps the battery maintained.

I seem to remember from when I had battery problems on my Pug that there's a certain way you need to disconnect/connect the battery in order to reset the ECU. I'll see if I can dig it out.

[magicroundabout]

Some batteries need a charge before you put them in. The alternator won't charge it from flat, it just keeps the battery maintained.

I seem to remember from when I had battery problems on my Pug that there's a certain way you need to disconnect/connect the battery in order to reset the ECU. I'll see if I can dig it out.

my batteries have never needed that. probably why they cost so much.

The disconnect/connect method makes sense. sometimes if done wrong you can spike the ECU which'll require it being reset at a pug dealers unless you have a pug specialist near by who can do it cheaper.

[Samdy Gray]

Here it is. If you didn't let the ECU go into sleep mode when you disconnected the battery and then didn't reconnect it properly then you could've fucked it...

PROCEDURE FOR BATTERY DIS-CONNECTION (The 3 Minute Rule)
Whenever a vehicle battery has to be dis-connected, switch off all equipment,
interior lights etc, close the doors leaving the drivers window open.
Switch off the ignition and remove the key and any DIAG equipment.

Wait a full 3 minutes before disconnecting the battery.

The BSi must be allowed to go to SLEEP i.e. into "power save mode". Do not
operate any equipment on the vehicle during this time. Remember, even
opening the bonnet will wake the BSi on a vehicle fitted with alarm.

If the battery is under the bonnet, open the bonnet first and leave it up. 807
batteries can be dis-connected through the drivers window, remove floor cover
first. (note, Pics are under the passenger seat)

ALWAYS disconnect any DIAG equipment and do not operate any plips from
other vehicles during the 3 minute waiting period.


PROCEDURE FOR BATTERY RECONNECTION
Unless otherwise instructed by Product Service, you must always
carry out the following procedure, often referred to as a "soft re-boot", to
minimise the possibility of the BSi corrupting its own software when
reconnecting the vehicles battery supply.
Ensure the procedure for battery disconnection has been adhered to and
importantly all BSi functions were switched off with the drivers window left
down.
1 Close all doors
2 Remove ignition key if left in ignition
3 Reconnect battery. DO NOT open any doors
4 Wait 10 seconds
5 Switch on headlights through the drivers window (you will hear a "bong") (note: Snap-on says Side-lights)
6 Switch on ignition then start the vehicle and check system functions

NOTE: Upon reconnection, if any vehicle function controlled by the BSi i.e .
interior light is switched on,the internal operation of the BSi has the potential
to spike or corrupt its configuration and software program......

[Chubbs]

hmmm, didint think it would be that intricate, cheers for that sam though,

I'll take it down the garage