battery light on

disco had been parked up for a few days, fitted new discs and pads and went for a drive.. now the battery light is on for my 200 tdi disco 1 but doesnt seem as bright as the other red dash lights, i.e handbrake. fan belt is ok, battery is connected. ideas?

Does the power steering work ok?

if not your bottom pulley has come loose

Freelaner said:

Does the power steering work ok?

if not your bottom pulley has come loose

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power steering is ok mate, there is a grown when turning at times, think its one of the joints needing a good grease , have noticed a couple times when first started and hitting full lock theres the odd squeel ( happened a couple times)

anyway power steering is working, for now lol

Fuses and connections

failing that alternator on its swan song

i'd say it was your alternator on its way out

when idle, volts at battery are mostly at 14.45, does change to .46 and .47 at times

12.5 with just the ignition on, i tryed putting a jump lead from the battery earth to the body to improve earth, didnt make any difference

i think you need a genuine new alternator belt, or it might not be tensioned enough

belt is fine mate, not slack, doesnt squeel

the battery is charging...volts to back of alternator are a steady 14., if i remove the wire the light goes off, could it be a problem from the alternator to dash?

Simple things to check, is the spade connector on the back of the alt tight?
If so remove three 3 cross head screws and remove the brush box the brushes have probably worn down, under 10 quid for new box of ebay, under 10 mins to remove and thats if you take your time, careful as you pull box out as theres another wore plugged into it again easy to get off.

yes they are tight, had a garage look at it, they checked every thing i did, said its the diode?

Have you looked at the brushes as I suggested above?

i havnt as of yet mate, i will do though.. garage reckoned they were ok, for piece of mind ill rule it out. cheers

Useful video brush box 1.13 minutes
Lucas a127 alternator rebuild,reg rectifier sliprings.Fits tractors and vintage cars. - YouTube

thanks, ill give it a watch, surly if it was teh bushes volts would be low, wouldnt be steady?

Always used to be the fault on the trucks, battery light on, new brush box away they go.
Dont see it very much at all these days as modern stuff seems to last a lot longer.
But Ive used a few brush boxes on my 90 nearly always due to mud getting in there
Pull box out for a look see then at least you will know.

You have got an earth somewhere on either side of bulb.
Disconect the sense wire at alternator if it goes off probably a faulty diode in alternator.

Blackburn said:

You have got an earth somewhere on either side of bulb.
Disconect the sense wire at alternator if it goes off probably a faulty diode in alternator.

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already done that mate, light goes off. cheers

You can replace the diode pack quite cheaply
some info here on rebuild
Refurbishing the 200TDi Alternator | mud4fun
and parts can be got from here
Wood Auto Supplies Ltd :: 54022474

This looks like the correct part fits under back cover will need soldering in I believe.ALTERNATOR RECTIFIER DIODE PACK REPAIR KIT FITS LUCAS A115 CLASSIC UNITS 12VOLT | eBay

this video is the plug version but very similiar
rebuilding an a115 alternator, Youtube Search | Ask Jeeves