Battery light constant on

9th June 2013, 20:29

Hey guys, my vts battery light permanent on when driving. Was fine yesterday and started it up an hour ago and it seems brighter than normal.

All other electrics working fine, checked the terminal and stuff. Last week I got the battery and alternator checked on voltmeter. Battery at 89% and alternator OK .

Had a search on here but didn't really solve anything ha.

9th June 2013, 20:50

Clean the connections up on the alternator.

9th June 2013, 21:00

Which alternator do you have? If its the later plug type then it could be the connector, seen a few of them where the connector becomes slack, or the warning light wire could be broken, or even be exposed somewhere and causing a short. Try tracing the wire back and check for breaks or exposed sections. If you have a multimeter then try doing a continunity test on the warning light circut.

9th June 2013, 21:39

Just to add the power steering stopped working sometimes it works sometimes its not. At the moment it's not working any suggestions? Is this linked to the problem?

And the heaters stopped working. Gonna look at the fuses

So I saw a thread on here about pas heaters and rear windows not working, I checked the fuse its fine, it clicks when it kicks in. So take coloum off and place the brown wire inside some connector and all be fixed?

9th June 2013, 22:25

My power steering doesn't work either, but heaters and demister are fine.

I'd say the pump is gone.

9th June 2013, 22:36

well your power steering gets its power directly from the alternator.

And alternator test doesn't check for power getting into your loom, only if there's power at the connector.

I think you've got a bad field coil supply. this is a small wire which goes to your alternator.

Get a multimeter across your battery with the engine off. it should be about 12.3-12.6V. with the engine running it should read 13V (mine reads 13.1 on my GTI and my 1.5D). That's a sure sign the alternator is working.

Tap your PAS motor with a hammer (not the plastic end) and see if it starts, it could well be worn.

your heater is not electronic, that's unrelated. I can assure you. So is your rear demister.

9th June 2013, 23:03

Erm, read the Haynes manual and the numerous threads on here.

All of those parts are electric, they use the same fuse.

By heaters I'm assuming he means the actual blowers.

I know these cars are old, but can assure you there are no hamsters or smoke and magic as to why these things in the car work.

9th June 2013, 23:26

It's not gone completely it cuts in and out heaters too. I drove it manually built bit speed up little click came from the fuse area. Pas worked and heaters turned on. It usually cuts out when the car starts to slow down.

9th June 2013, 23:48

Mines just off constantly now. Used the hammer method before and it worked last time. Think it's time to buy a new one.

10th June 2013, 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hazmanscoop

Mines just off constantly now. Used the hammer method before and it worked last time. Think it's time to buy a new one.

tried changing the relay, theres two of them? was only 1 in the furio.

checked all round the alternator all connections seem okay,

Changed battery over.

changed fuse

bridged the connector in steering colum

hit pas with hammer lol

its still intermittent on off when it pleases.

10th June 2013, 05:59

Means its on its way out then I'm afraid. Mine was like that (the PAS) and now it's off all the time.

My mates GTi had the battery problem. He eventually got it sorted, wasn't an expensive fix I don't think, just a loose wire iirc

11th June 2013, 10:54

solved to alternator, was running at 11.8V