#1: Battery Charge Fault Author: 206HdiGti, Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 3:44 am ---- 2005 HDI GTI 1.6
Hi,
On Monday the 'Battery Charge Fault' warning message flashed up and then the light went out on the dash. It came on again yesterday morning and went out. Couldn't start the car first or second time when I left work 8 hours later. Had dash lights but felt like I had a dead battery. It came on again this morning and went out straight away.
I've owned the car for 3 years in October and cannot remember changing the auxiliary belt during a service.
Could it be an old belt, though it's not slipping or is my alternator on it's way out? Battery is 10 months old.
Any ideas?
Thanks
#2: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: copey, Location: rochdalePosted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:05 am ---- tested the battery?
#3: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: Edward, Location: In the garagePosted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:07 am ---- If the belt is still there and isn't slipping it's not a dodgy belt.
#4: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: 206HdiGti, Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:53 am ---- No I haven't tested the battery yet.
Will buy a multi-meter later and test it out.
I would have thought the warning light would be on all the time?
#5: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: mtempsch, Location: Gothenburg, SwedenPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:04 am ----
206HdiGti wrote:
No I haven't tested the battery yet.
Will buy a multi-meter later and test it out.
A multimeter will give you some basic info on the state of the battery; a fully charged battery at rest (car hasn't been running for a while, no big current drawn from it) should be about 12.6V, 50% charge is about 12.0V, anything below 11.6 is pretty much empty.
But a battery can have a good 'open circuit' voltage, but have an internal fault (effectively high internal resistance) that makes it so it can't keep the voltage up as high current is drawn from it (ie by your starter as you try to start).
It may only be 10 months old, but that doesn't mean it can't be at fault (that's what warranties are for...) Not saying it IS, just that it isn't a certainty it's not.
A hydrometer to measure the density of the acid in each cell can indicate if one cell is faulty (stands out from the rest in the measurement), as well as the charge level in the battery.
You might want to look over your ground points, the one on the gear box is particularly fond of crapping out... A loose ground can cause lots of various fun faults.
If you can get the car started (tried another battery? Can hook it up temporarily with starter leads) check the voltage over the battery with about 1500-2000 rpm on the engine, Alternator should give you at the very least 13.8, preferably 14.4V to be able to properly charge the battery.
To avoid possible issues, follow the battery [dis]connect procedure and leave the donor car off (preferably disconnect its battery leads) if you use a battery still in another car.
A charging fault, like most any electric issue, might be intermittent.
as long as the belt is still there and not slipping and spinning the alternator, then it's doing its job. Could be alternator / charge regulator, battery, or wiring issue...
#6: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: Timon2210, Location: PalestinePosted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:06 am ---- Well from what you said,you need to do several tests to make sure what is causing the problem:
1-Basic test is with voltmeter,test the battery when car is not running,a good battery shows about 12V or so,when you start the car if the alter. is working right,it should be about 13.7V or 14.2 V if the battery in good condition,so you need to observe the reading of the voltmeter while you increase the rev. of the engine,and see what happen.
2-Check the condition of the belt,as it might be got longer with time,and cause it to slip on high rev.
3-check the belt tensioner condition,by feeling the belt,if it's tight or not.
if your battery don't have caps to access cells,you can't do the acid density,as some battery manuf. have the battery sealed.
#7: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: mtempsch, Location: Gothenburg, SwedenPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 3:48 am ----
Timon2210 wrote:
if your battery don't have caps to access cells,you can't do the acid density,as some battery manuf. have the battery sealed.
And some (quite many actually since true sealed lead acid batteries aren't all that common in automotive use) might look sealed but actually aren't.
Instead of individual screw caps,, the caps might be integrated into the underside of flush fitting flat panels, which might require knives, putty knife, screwdriver etc. to pry up. Seams between battery case and panels might be obscured by stickers as well...
#8: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: 206HdiGti, Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:35 am ---- This happened today.
Went to site for 90mins, no issues there and back (distance 6 miles).
Went out to lunch (8 miles to shop) no issues
Went to come back, nothing. Lights on dashboard.
Tried jumping it off of someone's car but nothing what so ever.
Bumped it down a hill and it sprang into life.
Surely that's mechanical and starter related?
Please help
#9: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: mtempsch, Location: Gothenburg, SwedenPosted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 10:00 am ----
206HdiGti wrote:
This happened today.
Went to site for 90mins, no issues there and back (distance 6 miles).
Went out to lunch (8 miles to shop) no issues
Went to come back, nothing. Lights on dashboard.
Tried jumping it off of someone's car but nothing what so ever.
Bumped it down a hill and it sprang into life.
Surely that's mechanical and starter related?
Please help
Did it start later on, after the bump start and driving a bit?
So, lights on the dash etc. Did they dim as you tried crank? No clicky noise under the hood as you tried tried to crank?
Voltages would have been good to have... but given jumpers did no diff then likely not the battery [on its own].
Checked the big positive wire down to the starter to be firmly attached to the +bolt on the solenoid?
Ground leads?
Maybe a sticky solenoid?
#10: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: 206HdiGti, Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 10:56 am ---- Hiya,
Yes after I got back to work, switched off then on again and it fired up first time. Will see what it does in the next 20 mins as I'll be going home again...
I didn't notice the dash lights dimming at all whilst trying to start (or not in this case).
No clicking noises at all and none whilst it was being jumped.
Whereabouts is the starter on the DV6 engine? I'll need to get under the car tonight when I get home to have a proper look around.
I did have a grounding issue a few weeks ago where I found the main gearbox to earth chassis ground was hanging on by one strand and then it snapped. I fixed that 2 weeks ago and now this issue has come around. I didn't have any starter issues whilst I was suffering from the earth issue and by suffering I mean cutting out whilst driving at 60...
If anyone can point out where the starter is I'll get under it tonight and have a poke.
Many thanks for your help so far, it's greatly appreciated
#11: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: 206HdiGti, Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 4:32 pm ---- Think I found it...dead above a driveshaft to the left of the sump...how the hell do you get it out from underneath?
Found the nobs who changed my cambelt broke or lost a nut holding the ECU bracket on so I've wedged something in between strut tower and casing to stop it moving around.
Tightened the gearbox earth and fired it all up first time. From ne'er neath I couldn't see anything amiss with the two wires going into the starter.
#12: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: 206HdiGti, Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 6:33 am ---- Think this was caused by the earth bolt coming a tiny bit loose on the gearbox earth I had fixed previously.
Nothing since I tightened it!
Thanks for all help!
#13: Re: Battery Charge Fault Author: Timon2210, Location: PalestinePosted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 5:07 am ---- Glad that you got it fixed
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