Battery light

Ddleeds

Member

Posts

59

Location

Wolverhampton

• Feb 24, 2020

• #1

I have noticed ever.sonce we have had the car the battery light has never come on. Even when you turn the key.bit not start it is this normal on the Freelander ? Cleaned up the alternator over the weekend whilst I had the inlet off out of the way. The alternator was cover in oil by were the earth goes. Iv cleaned it all up alternator looks new and the belt. Bettery is getting charge over 14 volts whilst running.
Does the car have a problem? What should I be looking at next?

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Posts

32,954

Location

Cornwall

• Feb 24, 2020

• #2

The battery warning light should come on until the engine is running. It could be the LED has failed or been deliberately damaged. There's a resistor across it, so it'll still power the exciter windings on the alternator, but you won't have a tell tale if the alternator stops charging .

 

J

Jayridium

Well-Known Member

Posts

1,416

Location

Pedronapper (Peterhead)

• Feb 24, 2020

• #3

I've learned something, I honestly didn't know the binnacle lights were leds, I had just presumed they were those ubiquitous silly little bulbs.

 

Ddleeds

Member

Posts

59

Location

Wolverhampton

• Feb 24, 2020

• #4

Ok thanks I don't know weather to take it out and have a look or just leave it. Are the LEDs something that can be changed or do I need another binnacle?

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Posts

32,954

Location

Cornwall

• Feb 24, 2020

• #5

Ddleeds said:

Ok thanks I don't know weather to take it out and have a look or just leave it. Are the LEDs something that can be changed or do I need another binnacle?

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The LEDs are surface mount IIRC, so unless you can solder surface mount devices, I'd leave alone for the time being. It's of no real consequence if the alternator is working.

 

Ddleeds

Member

Posts

59

Location

Wolverhampton

• Feb 24, 2020

• #6

Ok thanks Im alright with soldering but I think I will leave it

 

Ddleeds

Member

Posts

59

Location

Wolverhampton

• Feb 25, 2020

• #7

Ok I think it is the alternator now. After the missus came home today she said her lights have been flickering. Sat in it with the door open the head lights rear lights and inside all flickering. Tested the battery and it's going from 14+ volts down to 13 as the lights flicker
Looks like another job for me

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Posts

32,954

Location

Cornwall

• Feb 25, 2020

• #8

That does sound like the alternator is on its way out. The TD4 alternator quite often gets an oil bath, every time the oil filter is changed. This can lead premature failure of the brushes and regulator unit.

 

Ddleeds

Member

Posts

59

Location

Wolverhampton

• Feb 25, 2020

• #9

Yeah it was covered in oil before I cleaned it. I covered it with a carrier bag when I serviced it the weekend. The lights stop flickering when it's over 1500 rpm

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Posts

32,954

Location

Cornwall

• Feb 25, 2020

• #10

Ddleeds said:

Yeah it was covered in oil before I cleaned it.

Click to expand...

There's a reason for that .

Ddleeds said:

I covered it with a carrier bag when I serviced it the weekend.

Click to expand...

Because people changing the filter don't do that

 

Ddleeds

Member

Posts

59

Location

Wolverhampton

• Feb 28, 2020

• #11

Update.
Took the alternator off and took it to a bloke I know who repairs them. He had a look and said the alternator was a reconditioned one. The bearing inside had been put in the wrong way and damaged and leaked grease out. it had knackered the regulator aswell. He rebuilt it properly same day. Put it back on battery light came straight on a disappeared when it started. Now the car is running fine again now
Another job ticked off the list