Need help with a couple problems

  1. Newbie Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 17
    #1
    Bought my first car Saxo 1.1 first in black last month for £330 full year mot with not problems on it!

    done all the exterior changes i want.
    Ive done a service -
    Radiator flush - new coolent
    Oil change and oil filter change
    air filter change
    spark plug change
    a long with a new battery.

    Since doing all these things ive got a couple problems what have come up and i dont have a clue what they could be, ive checked on all these forms but nothing specific has come up to why.

    First one is one that was already a problem with the car when i bought it but the temp gauge doesn't work, took the car to 2k on revs for a while and jumped to 3k and the fan kicked in and worked but there was no change on the temp gauge. First thing i did was knock on the panel to see if it was stuck, no change and checked all the fuses internal and outside and there all fine, dunno if its a dodgy thermostat inside somewhere. or the wiring, i checked that and it seemed fine.

    The other problems is the heaters/cold air blower vents or what ever its called used to work but since the radiator flush as stopped working, all setting don't work 0-3, i checked behind the centre dash to see if the connections loose or out, they were all fine, same with the fuses i checked.

    the final thing is the battery light. the old battery didn't hold enough charge so i changed it cos it went flat. after putting in the new one the battery light is always on, checked the connections and the ground and gave them a good clean, but still on. not sure if its on to say something is the matter with the alternator?


    i was contemplating restarting the ECU but i don't want to mess it up.

    If anyone could help and give me some ideas on what's the matter or would it just be best going to a garage to get it checked out, id prefer to fix it myself as im trying to keep the car on a cheap budget.
  2. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D
    #2
    Battery light means the battery is powering the car instead of the alternator. I reckon the fans not working is to do with this fault. Maybe you knocked a wire, have you made sure the alternator is turning whilst the engine is running?
  3. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D
    #3
    If it's a Citroen fitted radio, make sure you have the code and if so just unplug the battery for a while to reset the ecu which may fix your temp gauge. Can get an alternator for around £20 from a breakers. Our you could get yours reconditioned if it's not damaged for a cost I'm unsure of!
  4. Newbie Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 17
    #4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by aldred309uk View Post
    Battery light means the battery is powering the car instead of the alternator. I reckon the fans not working is to do with this fault. Maybe you knocked a wire, have you made sure the alternator is turning whilst the engine is running?
    Ill have a check if ive knocked a wire, where should i be checking if i have? and if its got a colour to it?
  5. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D
    #5
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iconicbuck View Post
    Ill have a check if ive knocked a wire, where should i be checking if i have? and if its got a colour to it?
    Well the alternator is in the left at the front but if you haven't touched that it's probably not that but look anyway, probably when you changed the battery?

    I changed my timing belt and knocked my alternator and it died, needed a new one. Just check the connections for the alternator and the battery pal!
  6. Newbie Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 17
    #6
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by aldred309uk View Post
    If it's a Citroen fitted radio, make sure you have the code and if so just unplug the battery for a while to reset the ecu which may fix your temp gauge. Can get an alternator for around £20 from a breakers. Our you could get yours reconditioned if it's not damaged for a cost I'm unsure of!
    ill be doing that tomorrow to! bidding on one on ebay for cheap atm mite be able to get one for £9 that works. even if its not the alternator always good to have a part spare.
  7. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iconicbuck View Post
    ill be doing that tomorrow to! bidding on one on ebay for cheap atm mite be able to get one for £9 that works. even if its not the alternator always good to have a part spare.
    Did you change the battery yourself? The ecu reset is simple, just pop bonnet, remove positive battery connection and push it away from the terminal, close bonnet. Reconnect after a few hours!
  8. Newbie Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 17
    #8
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by aldred309uk View Post
    Did you change the battery yourself? The ecu reset is simple, just pop bonnet, remove positive battery connection and push it away from the terminal, close bonnet. Reconnect after a few hours!
    i did yeah. i must of done a ecu reset then as it took the battery out for a day and while the new one charged. or does it have to have connection to negative?
  9. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D
    #9
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iconicbuck View Post
    i did yeah. i must of done a ecu reset then as it took the battery out for a day and while the new one charged. or does it have to have connection to negative?
    It doesn't need a connection to negative, just no need to remove them both pal. Did the battery light stay on as soon add you first started it after changing it?
  10. Newbie Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 17
    #10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by aldred309uk View Post
    It doesn't need a connection to negative, just no need to remove them both pal. Did the battery light stay on as soon add you first started it after changing it?
    Im not 100% sure. cant really remember looking back. it never used to be on with the old battery tho.
  11. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D
    #11
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iconicbuck View Post
    Im not 100% sure. cant really remember looking back. it never used to be on with the old battery tho.
    Probably knocked something, and I reckon once you solve the battery light, the fan will work again
  12. Newbie Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 17
    #12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by aldred309uk View Post
    Probably knocked something, and I reckon once you solve the battery light, the fan will work again
    I check the alternator and everything was connected. started the engine and had a look and the belt was moving on it and looked like it was working at least. but the battery light was still on in the dash.

    i had a quick look online to check if i had a dead one and it said to use a screw driver and see is its attracted to it. nothing happened. not really sure of other ways to check it as i dont have a multimeter.

    id does make me wonder if this is what clicked it. when i was bleeding the radiator with a mate of he left the radiator cap off for to long while the car was ideling and didnt realise. when we came back boiling hot water was going every where. did probably go on the alternator.

    But if it isthe alternator how come to car is starting up fine each time i turn it on, ifs been sitting not on the road for ages now
  13. Saxperience Addict Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 11714 A6 Le Mans tuned/A3 TFSI tuned
    #13
    Hmmm, was gonna say, get a multimeter out and find out what's going on. You can go to your nearest halfrauds and get a free check.

    And yes if the alternator doesn't work the battery should go flat at some point. So most likely a wiring problem somewhere.
  14. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2014 Blackburn, Lancashire Posts: 596 2002 Citroen Saxo desire 2001 Volvo V40 1.9D
    #14
    I think liquid killed mine, had it off when changing the timing belt and thought it would be a good idea to give it a clean with soapy water, it wasn't!
  15. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Apr 2013 Jarrow Posts: 4022 2003 Icelandic Grey 16v VTR 1991 Daihatsu GTti
    #15
    Most motor factors do a free battery test.
  16. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #16
    Have a look at the alternator connections & clean up if needed,that is sometimes why the battery light comes on(not always can be a dead alternator diode)
  17. Newbie Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 17
    #17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Manu View Post
    Hmmm, was gonna say, get a multimeter out and find out what's going on. You can go to your nearest halfrauds and get a free check.

    And yes if the alternator doesn't work the battery should go flat at some point. So most likely a wiring problem somewhere.
    the cars been fitting for at least 2 weeks now and ive started it up now and then and the battery still aint flat. reckon the light could just be on because it just is haha?
  18. Newbie Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 17
    #18
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Have a look at the alternator connections & clean up if needed,that is sometimes why the battery light comes on(not always can be a dead alternator diode)
    Not sure how the connection come off. i did have a go and taking it off but left like i was putting to much pressure on and didnt want to break it.
  19. Saxperience Addict Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 11714 A6 Le Mans tuned/A3 TFSI tuned
    #19
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by iconicbuck View Post
    the cars been fitting for at least 2 weeks now and ive started it up now and then and the battery still aint flat. reckon the light could just be on because it just is haha?
    a wire has gone wrong somewhere, or maybe something as simple as a dirty connection. As mentioned before, go get it tested at least to completely rule out the battery and alternator mate