Flickering battery light, lead to engine cutting out

1. claretfan Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Chelmsford Posts: 165 Saxo 1.1 Forte

   #1 16th March 2011, 18:20

   My battery light has been flickering for ages usually happens when i'm slowing down or changing gears, today whilst in 1st gear(clutch down obviously) waiting at traffic lights, it glowed red the car vibrated heavily, then the engine cut out.
   
   am i right in thinking my alternator is knackered???
   
   if so, how much is this usually to repair?
   
   if not, wtf is causing this to happen?
   
   thanks.
2. user_44477 Established Member Joined: May 2010 rotherham Posts: 1813 2001 Citroen saxo furio.

   #2 16th March 2011, 18:23

   get your battery and alternator tested for free at halfords if you can make it to one.
3. peter91 L-plater Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 36 2000 Citroen Saxo First 1.0, 2003 Alfa Romeo 156 1

   #3 16th March 2011, 23:33

   if the car restarts after cutting out its more than likely your earthing points are corroded, look at your negative battery terminal and remove the clamp, clean the connector inside and the battery post. then reattach it, then remove the actual earth points, one on the gearbox, one on the chassis and clean them both up, that should help a lot
4. Kings Newbie Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 27

   #4 16th March 2011, 23:53

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by peter91 if the car restarts after cutting out its more than likely your earthing points are corroded, look at your negative battery terminal and remove the clamp, clean the connector inside and the battery post. then reattach it, then remove the actual earth points, one on the gearbox, one on the chassis and clean them both up, that should help a lot

   Im having the same problem. For the one on the gearbox is it at the top?
   The one on the chassis, where abouts on the chassis? Under the vehicle? how far back? - Never really worked on a Saxo, only got it today knowing the fault. Just thought it was the altenator, but I'll give this a go tomorrow and see what happens.
5. citroen_saxo_vtr Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2006 Norwich Posts: 2823 Vectra sri 2.6 v6

   #5 18th March 2011, 20:55

   the battery light is related to it cutting out, Mine was doing it and i had a good look and the fat wire on the alternator had broken. I asked around and apparently when the engine is revving it puts out more charge and when it comes down to idle the volts drop and cause the engine to cut out, odd and stupid but true as i tested it will mine.