battery light flickering when giving it beans

1. stroutsy Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Deal, kent Posts: 625 saxo vee tea are

   #1 23rd February 2011, 12:25

   when i put my foot down my battery light flickers on my dash? any ideas what it could be? alternator breaking down :s
2. VTHall Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Apr 2010 Telford Posts: 4501 Black corsa c SXI.

   #2 23rd February 2011, 12:52

   i had this problem, went to my local auto electrics place, fixed it for 25 quid and told me it was the wire that goes from the alternator to the terminals was shagged.
3. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #3 23rd February 2011, 13:02

   My old VTR used to do this but it was intermittent so I just ignored it
   
   Battery light comes on when the car detects that the Alternator is not charging the battery (I think) so chances are there is a lose cable between battery and alternator or one of the connections is rusted etc.
   
   Check all the connections, undo them and make sure they are secure
   Clean any surface rust
4. Barry123 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2005 Aycliffe Posts: 32205 Saxo VTS

   #4 23rd February 2011, 13:08

   mine did it all the bleeding time. Get a multimeter on it and confirm that it is charging correctly firstly. Otherwise it's a loose connection on the terminals or a knackered wire.
5. J222JRA Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: May 2007 Posts: 16839 Saxo VTS, Westfield

   #5 23rd February 2011, 13:24

   wait until its dark, start the car, lift the bonnet and get someone to rev the car.....chances are the alternator cable insulation is damaged and its bridging a connection, looks for a spark...if its that it will be easy to spot.
   
   Happened to my vts, and alot of other peoples saxos that i know.
6. stroutsy Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2010 Deal, kent Posts: 625 saxo vee tea are

   #6 23rd February 2011, 14:55

   alright nice one ill have a look when it stops raining. cheers for the help
7. DJDannyB Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2008 Stockport Posts: 2687

   #7 23rd February 2011, 16:22

   Mine has done this before, the alternator cable had come loose. Just unplug it from the alternator and plug it back in and make sure its pressed right in. Did the trick for me.
8. user_51379 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 plymouth Posts: 2921 mk2 VTS

   #8 5th April 2011, 14:50

   i now have this problem when you rev over 3.5k also just replaced alternator
   does the wire that goes from the alternator to battery run behind the engine
9. xDaNx Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2009 Denaby Main, Doncaster Posts: 220 Corsa C SRI 1.8

   #9 5th April 2011, 15:06

   Mine was doing this then eventually stayed on for good, turns out the wire from the battery to the alternator corroded and fell off.
10. Barry123 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2005 Aycliffe Posts: 32205 Saxo VTS

    #10 5th April 2011, 15:21

    yeah it runs behind the engine, forms part of the engine loom. £750 for a new loom from Citroen.
11. user_51379 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2011 plymouth Posts: 2921 mk2 VTS

    #11 5th April 2011, 20:10

    it will be second hand loom lol
12. 5trudd3rs Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2009 Milton Keynes Posts: 217 Saxo VTR MK2

    #12 6th April 2011, 15:33

    I've had two saxo's and did it on both.
    
    The problem on both was corroded connection on top of alternator. Sand it down. Clean it and reinsulate. Should solve your problem.