complete p38 electrical failure oops what a surprise lol

Its always been in the back of my mind the troublesome p38 electrics but apart from a burnt out blower relay mine seems to have been reliable, until tonight. Was going to see a mate got as far as the end of the road and turned back as all the electrics where dying on me just managed to nurse it on to the drive.

Battery totally dead new in April poxy halfords crap, previous owner fitted it, their recommended one for the car now I know its not the batteries fault there will be some thing else that's the cause still mite have something to do with the ford I drove threw which put up an abs fault almost straight away.

Batteries on charge will start the checks tomorrow starting with charging voltage i noticed the becm is still awake after getting out the car the park led is dim after locking the car only started noticing it due to the earlier darker nights.

Let the fun begin.

no battery dies in 6 months unless there are major underlying problems

The Mad Hat Man said:

no battery dies in 6 months unless there are major underlying problems

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Yep will start looking tomorrow

biketeacherdave said:

mite have something to do with the ford I drove threw which put up an abs fault almost straight away.

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Almost but not quite prescient of it.

RF receiver?

Grrrrrr said:

Almost but not quite prescient of it.

RF receiver?

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Its on my list of things to check starting with
Alternator
Earthlings
Fuse box
Rf receiver
Etc etc lol

That should cover it!

Sorry to hear about that.
My (somewhat limited) experience is that a good strong battery is essential. I had what appeared to be illogical, random faults and messages and then starting problems. Got a 130 amp battery and it has sorted everything! So don't mess about trying to charge up a battery you're not absolutely sure of, get a good strong one in it and take it from there.
Good luck

plumbfisher said:

Sorry to hear about that.
My (somewhat limited) experience is that a good strong battery is essential. I had what appeared to be illogical, random faults and messages and then starting problems. Got a 130 amp battery and it has sorted everything! So don't mess about trying to charge up a battery you're not absolutely sure of, get a good strong one in it and take it from there.
Good luck

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Yep its on my list I'm thinking of the dc31 having had a look iv found an old rf receiver in a box of bits given to me by the previous owner so will look for a part number on the one fitted to the car to see if its 3rd gen.
It seems the P glowing led should go out after 2 or so minutes after locking the car will need to check. Love the search function

Alternator is dead phew simple fix then will remove it in the morning and drop it off at my local refurb centre

The Mad Hat Man said:

no battery dies in 6 months unless there are major underlying problems

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Sorry, that just is not correct, lots of problems with early mortality in new batteries these days

Datatek said:

Sorry, that just is not correct, lots of problems with early mortality in new batteries these days

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Correct, brand new 115 amp Varta dead cell in just over a week is my best offering.

Got the phone call today 60 ish quid to replace the faulty part in the alternator or double for a complete refurb with a years warranty now I can get a sh one for 40 quid or a new one for 90 but not a bosch. Knowing how sensitive the p38 is to electrics I'm going to have my old one completely refurbed and repaired its the 150 amp type highest they did for the car it seems.will keep the halfords battery for now and invest in the biggest one that fits in the tray at a later date.

Will be ready tomorrow mite get it fitted late tomorrow afternoon.

biketeacherdave said:

Got the phone call today 60 ish quid to replace the faulty part in the alternator or double for a complete refurb with a years warranty now I can get a sh one for 40 quid or a new one for 90 but not a bosch. Knowing how sensitive the p38 is to electrics I'm going to have my old one completely refurbed and repaired its the 150 amp type highest they did for the car it seems.will keep the halfords battery for now and invest in the biggest one that fits in the tray at a later date.

Will be ready tomorrow mite get it fitted late tomorrow afternoon.

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Make sure they fit a regulator with a set point of at least 14.2 volts. If they fit 13.9 or lower it will not be a lot of use.

Datatek said:

Make sure they fit a regulator with a set point of at least 14.2 volts. If they fit 13.9 or lower it will not be a lot of use.

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I will check with them in the morning their pretty good at this place they did comment how expensive the parts were so let's hope there the correct ones.

biketeacherdave said:

I will check with them in the morning their pretty good at this place they did comment how expensive the parts were so let's hope there the correct ones.

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The overhaul does sound expensive, a new one would be cheaper.

Datatek said:

The overhaul does sound expensive, a new one would be cheaper.

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I agree but the new one is an unknown brand and I'm unable to find any information on it however they do offer a 2 year warranty. So must be OK.

biketeacherdave said:

I agree but the new one is an unknown brand and I'm unable to find any information on it however they do offer a 2 year warranty. So must be OK.

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Many of the replacements seem to be unbranded and sometimes look identical to the more expensive branded products. Not had a problem with the unbranded stuff myself.

EBay 370720129550 seems very good value just little or no information about it I will email them for a tech sheet

brand new 115 amp Varta dead cell in just over a week is my best offering.

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I had a varta silver E44 die in about 8 weeks. and then was told by the supplier that a battery cannot not hold its charge (!!) 'and he knew what he was talking about'

It was replaced.

Datatek said:

Make sure they fit a regulator with a set point of at least 14.2 volts. If they fit 13.9 or lower it will not be a lot of use.

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so i spoke to the repair shop about this and they said its not a problem its been repaired using genuine bosch parts not pattern which he said looked identical. how ever his repair guide said to use only the genuine parts. i explained about the regulated set point and he says it all makes sense.

fitted it all working the abs fault i had come up a couple of days before is still there the one after my dip in the ford. thats my week end sorted then.