PLEASE HELP !!!! Power Problem...

1. djdavies Newbie Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 20

   #1 13th March 2010, 18:06

   Hello Guys
   
   Need Your Help Badly....
   
   All started on thursday morning when went to start car and nothing happend no power (flat battery)... managed to bump start it and left to run for a while in order to charge battery up abit... (i didnt drive the car at all thursday)
   
   Friday morning car started fine no problems ... took the car for a spin on friday night and had lights etc on got less than a mile before the car became very hesitant (started to stall)... so managed to turn round and drive home iwth no lights etc and car was fine...
   
   When got the car home i done a volatage test on the car and got the following readings
   
   Car Off - 12.51 Volts
   
   Car Idleing - 14.34 Volts
   
   Both apparently Normal....
   
   Does ANYONE no weather it is my alternator or battery i need to replace ...
   
   I dont want to change the one that doesnt need it as im skint....
   
   Any suggestions or past experiences would be a huge help....
2. Predator_R32p Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP

   #2 13th March 2010, 19:32

   Sounds like the alternator is fine
   
   Take the screws out the battery to check that the plates are covered in deionised water, id take the battery to get tested tbh
   
   Could also be something draining the battery, something thats wired up to a permanent live, have you installed anything electrically in the car
   
   interior light and boot light go off when the doors are shut
3. djdavies Newbie Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 20

   #3 13th March 2010, 19:35

   yeh all lights go off nothing extra has been added
   
   and battery levels are all fine...
   
   i got told to disccoenct negative and tap it on connection if it sparks u have a dodgey earth sumwere but that passed to??
   
   im baffled
4. Predator_R32p Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP

   #4 13th March 2010, 19:45

   when you have tested the battery the readings seem to be right, but remember the alternator takes over when the car is started, the battery is only used when the ignition isnt on and for starting the car really
   
   With you saying when your driving it starts to go it sounds to me that it is infact the alternator
   
   Check the alternator belt isnt too tight or too loose, easy way to check it is to push the belt, you should get about half a cm of play in the belt if its tensioned right, and earths are a good ting to check too, as are the plug connections, if all seems fine then id put it down to the alternator being on its way out
5. djdavies Newbie Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 20

   #5 13th March 2010, 19:48

   Have tested belt and is perfect...
   
   Again the quick test for a dodgey earth seemed to be ok...
   
   am taking battery to unipart so they can do a charge test on it to make sure it can hold a charge etc...
   
   whats best test for testing an altrenator???
6. Predator_R32p Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP

   #6 13th March 2010, 19:50

   did you put the multimeter on the actual multimeter or on the battery when testing??
7. djdavies Newbie Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 20

   #7 13th March 2010, 19:51

   actually on the battery connections
8. Predator_R32p Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP

   #8 13th March 2010, 19:57

   test the connection on the alternator
9. shawy Established Member Joined: Feb 2008 yorkshire Posts: 1152 black mk2 vtr

   #9 13th March 2010, 20:00

   also im having to same prob if i leave car a couple off days without useing it then go to start it.. turn key and battery seems dead then kicks in and starts
10. nichollsvts Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Middlesbrough Posts: 220 MK2 Saxo VTS Skoda Octavia VRS

    #10 13th March 2010, 20:25

    I'd recomend putting the battery on charger over night. My battery level appeared fine, but start very well on a cold start. Since giving my battery a good charge, it's been fine.
11. djdavies Newbie Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 20

    #11 14th March 2010, 11:16

    predator how do you test the alternator connection or the alternator in general
12. djdavies Newbie Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 20

    #12 14th March 2010, 12:28

    Hey Guys
    
    Thank You All For Your Help
    
    Had Battery Tested Today And Its F****D
    
    Am getting a new one tomoz and shall fit it fingers crossed