Dead Battery

[ciaoflyer]

Hi

Battery went dead yesterday so won't start!  Do you think that it is the alternator on our Bis that has stopped working, if so how do I test it?

Ta

[Rusty's Uncle]

Easier to get the battery tested if you can get the battery tested if you can get it to a motor factors. Modern batteries can just die overnight . I know as I had it happen on my Wife's car & it totally threw me . Started on the button one day then totally dead the following day 

[Amateb8]

I had this problem once and it was quite bizarre. It did not start and there was no lights in the instrument panel. Checked the battery terminals, no sign that it was loose and no foreign stuff on the terminals. I removed the terminals. Cleaned and reinstalled them. It started!!!

On another occassion, there was light on the instrument panel but no clicking noise when turning the ignition. It turned out to be the earthwire even if the earthwire looked solid and secure. With the help of a fellow member, the contacts just needed cleaning but I changed the connector as a precaution.

If the alternator is giving insufficient charge, should the battery warning indicator light up?

[ciaoflyer]

Light did not come on at all, how do you test if the altormator is putting out charge?

[ciaoflyer]

Found out why battery was dead.....



Wires had broke at the alternator because this bracket had snaped...



I have modified what is left of the bracket so it works temporarily bot has anyone got one spare, it is the braket that ajusts the tension of the alternator belt!

Ta

[Rusty's Uncle]

If you can't get one then if you post it to me & pay return postage I will weld it back together for you  [-/
Brings back memories of our Bis that when it was about 2 years old , heard a bump & a thump and discovered the alternator hanging out of the bottom of the engine bay, only connected by the wires 

[ciaoflyer]

Cheers mate, what I think I might do is take it to my local engineers and get them to make a few up!

[poxxxy]

Old post but don't suppose you had any made? mines on its last legs!

[gammakeith]

Ha Ha.  That's our car now and the bracket snapped (again) at the same position.  It looks like the PO didn't notice the pivot was "sloppy".  Probably explains the snapped cable as well....

Keith

[poxxxy]

Haha, evermind . Looks like i'll be taking mine off and breaking out AutoCAD to sketch up a new one.