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[RobG]

 :-? Hi and happy new year to all. The problem I`ve got is when driving with headlights, radio, aircon and low fan on, dash lights are ok. If I switch a heated seat or the rear screen heater on the ignition light glows increasing revs makes no difference to the light. New battery fitted three months ago (other totally knacked) but during the frosty mornings seems to turn over slow. Don`t know how to check alternator, is it probably knacked as well? Thanks for any help.

[dbug]

Alternator not charging sufficiently - no doubt someone will advise outputs

[Entwood]

Could be alternator .. could be bad earth/feed from the battery, if you have a multimeter check the battery voltage whilst the load is on and engine running.. should be around 13.5 - 14.5 v, also check BOTH terminals for abnormal heating as corrosion/loose wires/bad connections will all cause resistance and local heating

[Kevin Wood]

Yep. Could well be another badly crimped battery terminal.

Kevin

[RobG]

Could be alternator .. could be bad earth/feed from the battery, if you have a multimeter check the battery voltage whilst the load is on and engine running.. should be around 13.5 - 14.5 v, also check BOTH terminals for abnormal heating as corrosion/loose wires/bad connections will all cause resistance and local heating

Thanks for the quick replies. I assume when you say the load you mean any of the elec. items that causes the ign. light to glow. Do I have the engine just idling?

[Entwood]

Best bet is whilst in the "fault" condition .. so if that is idling with lights/radio/heated window etc etc .. do that and leave it like that for a few minutes .. that will allow time to develop any heat at the terminals.

IF they are OK and voltage is also good, it might be worth checking other earth straps/points .. I had a Ford Escort Mexico with major electrical problems years back.. the engine to chassis earth had broken and the whole thing was earthing down the throttle cable !!  

Now that did give some weird results - only found it when the throttle jammed on a long run (cable nearly welded itself together) and when I opened the bonnet and tried to free the throttel I damned burned my fingers !!!

[Kevin Wood]

Could be alternator .. could be bad earth/feed from the battery, if you have a multimeter check the battery voltage whilst the load is on and engine running.. should be around 13.5 - 14.5 v, also check BOTH terminals for abnormal heating as corrosion/loose wires/bad connections will all cause resistance and local heating

Thanks for the quick replies. I assume when you say the load you mean any of the elec. items that causes the ign. light to glow. Do I have the engine just idling?

Yep. A few heavy electrical loads will do it. Headlights, heated rear screen, Blower fan, for example. You may need to raise the revs to say 2000 rpm to get a good reading, especially with the load on.

Kevin

[RobG]

Could be alternator .. could be bad earth/feed from the battery, if you have a multimeter check the battery voltage whilst the load is on and engine running.. should be around 13.5 - 14.5 v, also check BOTH terminals for abnormal heating as corrosion/loose wires/bad connections will all cause resistance and local heating

Thanks for the quick replies. I assume when you say the load you mean any of the elec. items that causes the ign. light to glow. Do I have the engine just idling?

Yep. A few heavy electrical loads will do it. Headlights, heated rear screen, Blower fan, for example. You may need to raise the revs to say 2000 rpm to get a good reading, especially with the load on.

Kevin

Will test tomorrow and post.

[JamesV6CDX]

Ahhhh... this old chestnut  

Run the engine. Put ALL The electrical items on, seats, lights, windscreen heaters, etc. Let it run for five or ten mins (maybe less) and keep your hand on the + battery terminal.

My money is on that you won't keep your hand there for long .. it will get hot

In which case, the cable (or connection to terminal) is suspect...