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Omega General Help / Alternator Faulty - or something else?
« on: 15 February 2023, 15:45:29 »
I have a 'barn find' (was my father's old car) 03 plate Omega V6 2.6 with 45k miles that had sat in a dry garage for 7 years that's previously been discussed on this forum with a fuel issue - since resolved thank you - and been working nicely - or so I thought.
I noted that the old battery apparently wouldn't hold charge, so I replaced the battery with brand new one.
I've probably driven 100 miles with it since the new battery fitted over the past week - often with lights on. This morning I came to start the car - it seemed a bit reluctant to turn over but went off OK. Drove 15 miles to where I was going (lights on) and then couldn't restart it. Left the car to sit for a few hours while in a meeting - came out and it restarted OK. No warning lights for any of this time.
On the drive home - the battery light came on - dimmly though - along with the ABS and EML. I carried on driving. Then - after a few miles some more lights lit and after another mile or two the whole dashboard went dead - no tacho, speedo, fuel / temp gauges - but the car kept going... Drove a bit further and then it cut out entirely...
Charged the battery for 15 mins from a good running car and then started it. This time the battery light came on brightly - and got the car home without further incident.
I expected that a full alternator failure would have brought the battery light on brightly - but given that the battery seemed not to be charging well for the long period - is there anything I or the garage should be investigating.
Thanks
I noted that the old battery apparently wouldn't hold charge, so I replaced the battery with brand new one.
I've probably driven 100 miles with it since the new battery fitted over the past week - often with lights on. This morning I came to start the car - it seemed a bit reluctant to turn over but went off OK. Drove 15 miles to where I was going (lights on) and then couldn't restart it. Left the car to sit for a few hours while in a meeting - came out and it restarted OK. No warning lights for any of this time.
On the drive home - the battery light came on - dimmly though - along with the ABS and EML. I carried on driving. Then - after a few miles some more lights lit and after another mile or two the whole dashboard went dead - no tacho, speedo, fuel / temp gauges - but the car kept going... Drove a bit further and then it cut out entirely...
Charged the battery for 15 mins from a good running car and then started it. This time the battery light came on brightly - and got the car home without further incident.
I expected that a full alternator failure would have brought the battery light on brightly - but given that the battery seemed not to be charging well for the long period - is there anything I or the garage should be investigating.
Thanks