Hi All,

I just recently bought this X300 XJ6, and after spending £OMG on its very first service (including new belts and a new water pump) only last week, a new problem has emerged today:

As I was driving home, the battery warning light came on, and looking at the voltage level meter, it was reporting around 9v, dropping gradually from the top of the red section on the dial, right down to the bottom of the dial over the next few minutes.

I just started the car again, and it hovered just above the red area at 9v and then dropped to to end stop again over a few minutes running. Revving the engine moved the needle slightly, but not very much.

The belts are all new, and everything looks to be going fine in there, but low charging.

Is my alternator stuffed, or is there anything else worth looking for? Slightly worried that this XJ6 may be trouble. I've had it for 3 weeks now, and we're already heading for 4 figures in garage bills... Such a shame, as this car has had one owner and only 114k, and has stamps all the way up to 90k, plus the big service I just gave it.

 

I should add that the car is a '97 X300 3.2 6

 

Welcome to the forum. It may just be the battery has failed rather than the alternator. Try charging the battery overnight first and see if the charge holds. Buy a multimeter if you don't already have one, you'll be needing it. You also should have a code reader.

When you have time please visit the new member area and introduce yourself:

New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

 

Thanks RJ!

Battery now on charge.

Incidentally: I just tried starting the car (for a third time since the light came on), and there was no juice at all. The previous time I started the car, it was running fine, so the problem does appear to be with charge getting to the battery, rather than a general availabilty of electrical power.

It does seem somewhat coincidental that this charging problem should occur less than 100 miles since the belts were changed. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the alternator has been damaged / reached the end of its rope during the belt change, or that the belt simply isn't tensioned enough.

We shall see how things go once I've finished charging the battery.

 

You may want to paint across the harmonic balancer just to rule that part out. Since it's a "new to you" car, too, it may be a good idea.

There's some good posts on painting white or white-out across the pulleys to see if the harmonic balancer is loose.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...nating-102422/

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lancer-101674/

I say this because I replaced a good battery and rebuilt one alternator and installed two others before seeing that was the issue.

 

Thanks for that smartobject. This whole experience is "new to me" so all advice very much welcomed!

 

One more thought on charging the battery: disconnect the neg. terminal just in case there is a short somewhere, like the alternator.

 

Battery was rapid charged out of the car, RJ. Not something I'd ever do whilst connected or even in the car!

Car started fine when battery replaced, but voltage readout on dash staying firmly at ~12v when engine idling.

Starting to look more like the alternator.

 

The belt should be very tight. Since it's a new belt, they may not have installed it with the proper tension. I would take it back and ask them to check.

 

have your car brought to a battery shop they should be able to determine the fault, either from the alternator for charging or your battery is about to reach its end, in belt, use proper tension too tight will destroy many parts. you should feel a little play on the belt, e mail me i will send you the full instruction and illustration/picture

 

The belts actually look ok. I've just had another check, and they all seem to be running ok. No squeak or noise. There's a bit of play on the belts, but they certainly aren't loose. Will be dropping in to the specialist on Monday to get the tension double checked.

Battery charged pretty well last night, and seems to be holding the charge, but it might be worth grabbing a new one before resorting the big expense of a new alternator, I guess.

 

Alternator going in tomorrow. Belts were fine. :/

 

New alternator went in. I am now getting 13.5 to 14 volts consistently. Also, there's less noise from under the bonnet, so it would appear that the old alternator was the origin on the problem.

She sounds fantastic now. The best she has since I got her.