Is there a common reason for the battery warning light to come on intermittently? I have a healthy charging display from the ammeter with the engine running and I have read the voltage on the battery terminals at 12volts.
Kind regards, Danny.

 

does the ammeter reading look higher than normal? if yes, it sounds like the voltage regulator in the alternator is going to heaven, but the voltage at the battery should be 13.8 volts more or less, so it could also be the battery starting to die.

 

Thanks Jose, I will take a closer look in the morning, I am most grateful.
Regards, Danny.

 

If voltage at the terminal is 12v your car probably won't start.

If the gauge reads good an the battery reads low, check out the battery connections.

 

My 2 cents;
12 volts at the battery with the car running says that the alternator is not charging.
With the engine running it should read 13.5+ depending on the condition of the battery.
Clean battery and cable terminals, reconnect and test again.
Alternator to battery feed wire goes to the firewall connector on the left side of the car, Disconnect and clean there also. Test again.

 

I am most grateful for all suggestions. I have discovered that the alternator belt was in need of tightening, I could turn the alternator pulley by hand and saw it was slipping. The voltage on the battery was reading 12.4v with the engine not running.It probably just needed a full charge. Now the belt is tight and fully charging, there is a healthy 13v registering on the battery guage in the car, and the warning light has not re-appeared. So, all it was all down to a loose belt! I should have checked it in the first place. Such an idiot!
Kindest regards, Danny.

 

Hey Danny; don't be too hard on yourself . . . the positive outcomes are that you have learned a valuable lesson . . . and that you had the good grace to report back with the solution that resolved your problem. The latter thus reminds all of us to be vigilant about belt adjustment.

Please don't regard me as condescending, but I'd rate you 10 out of 10 !!!

Best wishes,

Ken

 

Ditto !!!


All issues are simple when one fids the answer!!!


Kudos on reporting. A great reminder to all of us.


Carl

 

I totally forgot about the belt!!