took out for a wee drive!!

ok its not as good as it sounds but cleaned the terminals in the obd2 socket in car tried this eas software about 40 times getting various b9s a9s etc but no ffs in recieve buffer again but after around 10 mins or so the whole thing lifted and levelled again!!
so i swiftly put everything away and took for a drive around the block it actually drove pretty good temp gauge as it should etc but now the battery is flat again dash flashing/battery light on alternator fault all that rubbish must be something causing this as well??
was gonna chance to lpg garage as i really want some in as no any fuel of any kind and with the light petrol leak cant afford to keep putting in evety day till i get it fixed!!
at least ill get under it tomorrow to have a better look now!!
but why did it lift the suspension warning lights are all still on and it still does nothing!!

back running then

running a bit rough and still a good few problems lol, petrol leak,suspension,battery discharge and then a few more easily fixable bits like trying to get bonnet to close properly etc

the power loss sounds like alternator's not charging!!!

yeah it could be the alternator gav!!
but it seemed to be working before how would i be able to test it?

you need to have it running and see what voltage it says across the battery terminals.

should be 13.5 plus! if its only 12 v then its not charging properly.

if the car is running of the battery, i.e not getting charged, it can cause all manner of wierd and wonderful problems. it also wont run for long as in your case because of all the systems that need power on the p38!

ok so i have one of these little tester thing with readout and 2 terminals but with me being stupid i have never tested anything with it so what setting do i put it on? has DCV /ACV / DCA and numerous settings within these like 20/200/1000/2000 and it has a black and red do i put them on the black and red battery and see what it says when its running?

you need dcv and 20.

put it on black to black, red to red while engine is running and again when stopped. read off the voltage and let us know!

Check the testing an alternator fred in Qs and As section. I think it should be carried out at 1400rpm.

Check the testing an alternator fred in Qs and As section. I think it should be carried out at 1400rpm.

can you explain more? is there a bit in here that tells me what to do? if so where?
sorry

will do this first thing in morning and post guys thanks

Have to agree with Gav (again ) You are on to a loser if the battery / charging system is not up to spec. You only have to loose a small amount of voltage for strange things to happen.All the people with diesels who have a starting problem will tell you that even cranking the engine for a little to long can throw up a reported gearbox fault. I would get this sorted first.

just been fiddling with mine and although i think the alternator is on the way out cos its whining, i put the little cheapo tester accross the battery and got 13v, same on terminals, then from pos to alt case was the usual 13.5 at tickover tho.

rigged a temp earth from body to alt bolt and hey presto its back to 13.5 accross the battery!!!

temp guage still goes up when i switch lights on tho!!!