Terminal Problem?

[mac_doctor]

It looks like there is a CTEK in my future, then.

[2woody]

Battery reads 12.2 with the engine off, 14.1 with the engine on.

14.1 is a little high, too. But commensurate with the 12.2 - I would expect it to settle down to a round 13.8 (running) once the battery is charged

[sheddist]

Even if car has regular use, battery charge can diminish if the battery lead crimps have become high resistance. I had this on both leads, while charging, crimps become warm or even hot, dropping 0.7V in the process. This is enough to cause the battery to appear dead after a few short runs. Remove leads, give crimps a good squeeze in a vice or maybe with mole grips.

[mac_doctor]

Well, the problem didn't recur on the way home, so I can only hope that no permanent damage was done whilst I sort out the battery (and sensor?) issues.

[P700DEE]

With a number of not too related problems being thrown up simultaneously, the first question is always "what is the battery voltage?".

Worth keeping an eye on that voltage, assume you have a car with SatNav not the guages? The high 14.1 at idle could be a pointer. I had alternator failure, giving high voltages which threw ABS error , gearbox error and even cut all the lights out !

[mac_doctor]

Worth keeping an eye on that voltage, assume you have a car with SatNav not the guages? The high 14.1 at idle could be a pointer. I had alternator failure, giving high voltages which threw ABS error , gearbox error and even cut all the lights out !

No - I have the guages, but they are like management charts - they all point to "all is well", presumably until I am a smoking wreck by the side of the road!

[sheddist]

With engine running and reasonably charged battery, voltage measured at the engine compartment fuse box terminal should be around 14.2V At the battery terminals, it should not be too different.

[mac_doctor]

OK, three weeks on and both my indie and I are back from our holidays. To my surprise, it started first time, but the 10 mile drive to the shop was quite exciting. The automatic lights came in and went off in time with the revs. Gear changes were few and far between, pulling off in about fourth. The dashboard illumination was ok whilst at idle, but went out when the throttle was used. The airbag light did the reverse. The indicators went at normal speed sometimes, double speed other times. Windscreen wipers worked flawlessly until I accelerated. All the while I was told that ASC and TRAC weren’t working. Voltage indication into the red at 17 volts whilst driving. Engine sounded fine.

... yet I got there, eventually.

Turns out that it was the alternator “overcharging”, apparently. New alternator, everything fine! Phew.