Battery light on after 20 minutes of driving.

1. Mysticp Scotland Joined: Jul 2005 Edinburgh Posts: 9556 Saxo 1.6i 16v VTS, 2 Classic Minis

   #1 7th August 2011, 15:48

   The last few times ive been out in the car i've noticed the battery light flickering faintly after the cars been running for more than 30 mins ish.
   
   The last time i drove it was last weekend & the light was fully lit by the time i parked it up at home.
   
   This morning i get in the car & its just turning over and over & not firing up.
   
   Battery is good, fuses all good, theres fuel in the tank.
   I dont hear the fuel pump prime when i put the ignition on though so i started looking about there.
   
   When the ignition is on im getting a reading of about 4 volts from the pink wire on the plug on the fuel pump & nothing from the thicker blue wire (there are also 2 earths on the plug) The battery reads 12.5v across its terminals.
   
   I'm stumped, is this some kind of earth issue somewhere? Should the pump be getting 12v?
   
   Cheers
2. Mysticp Scotland Joined: Jul 2005 Edinburgh Posts: 9556 Saxo 1.6i 16v VTS, 2 Classic Minis

   #2 8th August 2011, 13:17

   Anyone wanna throw in any input?
3. luke_vtr_gy Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2011 grimsby Posts: 187 l999 saxo vtr 2003 saxo vts

   #3 12th August 2011, 04:22

   fuel pump went on mine , luckly i had a spare in the shed , dont you have a mate with a saxo to try there pump, its a ten min job to swop them. if not have you let it run low on fuel , could be blocked filter or fuel line .
   
   when its turning over get someone to goto the back of the car see if you can smell petrol out the back box ,
   
   other thing try giving the fuel pump a little tap might be stuck
4. Mysticp Scotland Joined: Jul 2005 Edinburgh Posts: 9556 Saxo 1.6i 16v VTS, 2 Classic Minis

   #4 15th August 2011, 15:25

   Managed to get the car going again by jumping it off another car, it wasnt starting battery to battery but with my engine earthed to the other cars battery it started up fine.
   
   Drove it around for 20 mins & the battery light came back on bright on the dashboard.
   
   Still seems to be an earthing issue to me, where are the main earths around the engine bay so i can check them?
5. tomw1123 Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2011 St Austell, Cornwall Posts: 179 Hyosung GT125R

   #5 15th August 2011, 15:40

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Mystic Managed to get the car going again by jumping it off another car, it wasnt starting battery to battery but with my engine earthed to the other cars battery it started up fine. Drove it around for 20 mins & the battery light came back on bright on the dashboard. Still seems to be an earthing issue to me, where are the main earths around the engine bay so i can check them?

   Follow your negative on the battery to where it joins the chassis, thats an earth point (chassis earth return system)
6. user_26101 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2008 HERTS Posts: 281 cammed and carbbed citroen saxo vtr/s Seat Ibiza

   #6 15th August 2011, 18:34

   sounds like a bad earth mate
7. Mysticp Scotland Joined: Jul 2005 Edinburgh Posts: 9556 Saxo 1.6i 16v VTS, 2 Classic Minis

   #7 15th August 2011, 21:06

   How can i test the effectiveness of an earthing point? Measure resistance from a good earth to the source & compare?
   
   The battery earth point looks a bit coroded but before i go digging down there, i'd rather test it! Where does the engine earth too?
8. danpep91 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 413

   #8 16th August 2011, 11:19

   Earth or a nackerd altenator mate