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Battery warning light

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Battery warning light

Postby vampirequeen » Tue Feb 20, 2018 3:56 pm

Last week the battery warning light came on. We changed the F4 fuse and the light went out but the next day it came back on. When the accelerator is pressed the light gets brighter. To date we have:
• Checked the battery…it’s OK.
• The alternator is relatively new and as the battery hasn’t drained we assumed it’s OK.
• We’ve changed the fuses in the engine fuse box. They were very old so we simply put in new ones and checked they’re all working with a test meter.
• The lights and indicators are all working.

Now we’re stumped. Any ideas and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Our van is a 2000 reg.; Mk 6; LWB; high top; no turbo.
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby Altransit » Tue Feb 20, 2018 8:26 pm

Have you checked the charging voltage :?:
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby ned » Tue Feb 20, 2018 8:43 pm

A mk6 without a turbo? I thought they all had turbos even the 75 snail. N
RUST IS LIGHTER THEN CARBON FIBRE

57 transit 85t260 2.2 swb, moondust silver.
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=209987

03 transit 125t280 2.0 tdci swb 229,000 miles.
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=168296
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby Frag » Tue Feb 20, 2018 8:45 pm

ned wrote:A mk6 without a turbo? I thought they all had turbos even the 75 snail. N



They do,75 ps just has no intercooler...
Just a bit of drainpipe where it should be. :lol:
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby vampirequeen » Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:17 pm

Altransit wrote:Have you checked the charging voltage :?:



What's the charging voltage?
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby ned » Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:40 pm

vampirequeen wrote:
Altransit wrote:Have you checked the charging voltage :?:



What's the charging voltage?


14.4 volts with the engine running :D N
RUST IS LIGHTER THEN CARBON FIBRE

57 transit 85t260 2.2 swb, moondust silver.
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=209987

03 transit 125t280 2.0 tdci swb 229,000 miles.
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=168296
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby vampirequeen » Tue Feb 20, 2018 10:04 pm

Is that the battery?
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby ned » Tue Feb 20, 2018 10:15 pm

Sorry, yes with the engine running put a multi meter on the battery terminals, it should read 14.4 volts.

With the engine off you should see about 12.8 volts at the battery.

When starting the van the battery volts drop to around 8 - 8.4 volts.

When you start the van (after a few seconds) rev the engine to about 3000 rpm and see if the battery light goes out. N
RUST IS LIGHTER THEN CARBON FIBRE

57 transit 85t260 2.2 swb, moondust silver.
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=209987

03 transit 125t280 2.0 tdci swb 229,000 miles.
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=168296
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby grogan197 » Tue Feb 20, 2018 11:10 pm

As ned says first thing to check is what the battery voltage actually is. The MK6 has a self diagnostic function you can access through the dash to get it to display the battery voltage.
Instructions here http://workshop-manuals.com/ford/transit_2000.5_01.2000-05.2006/mechanical_repairs/4_electrical/413_instrumentation_and_warning_systems/413-01_instrument_cluster/description_and_operation/diagnosis_and_testing/instrument_cluster_vehicles_built_from_07-2003_vehicles_with_central_junction_box_(cjb)/

Or you can get a multimeter / plug in voltage reader to go in the ciggy lighter socket.

If the alternator is newish and the van is starting fine from the battery then there's a good chance the drive belt needs changing / tightening.
2006 MK6 2.0 125 TDCI - Luton Camper Conversion
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby ned » Tue Feb 20, 2018 11:40 pm

grogan197 wrote:As ned says first thing to check is what the battery voltage actually is. The MK6 has a self diagnostic function you can access through the dash to get it to display the battery voltage.
Instructions here http://workshop-manuals.com/ford/transit_2000.5_01.2000-05.2006/mechanical_repairs/4_electrical/413_instrumentation_and_warning_systems/413-01_instrument_cluster/description_and_operation/diagnosis_and_testing/instrument_cluster_vehicles_built_from_07-2003_vehicles_with_central_junction_box_(cjb)/

Or you can get a multimeter / plug in voltage reader to go in the ciggy lighter socket.

If the alternator is newish and the van is starting fine from the battery then there's a good chance the drive belt needs changing / tightening.


2000 plate van has the old analogue dash :wink: think they changed to digital at 53/04 plate. N
RUST IS LIGHTER THEN CARBON FIBRE

57 transit 85t260 2.2 swb, moondust silver.
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=209987

03 transit 125t280 2.0 tdci swb 229,000 miles.
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=168296
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby vampirequeen » Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:25 am

Thanks for all the advice. We'll check the battery voltage. If that's OK which belt is the drive belt.....I've looked and there seem to be several. Is it the timing chain or the drive belt attached to the alternator or something else?
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby grogan197 » Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:39 pm

vampirequeen wrote:Thanks for all the advice. We'll check the battery voltage. If that's OK which belt is the drive belt.....I've looked and there seem to be several. Is it the timing chain or the drive belt attached to the alternator or something else?


It's the one that goes round the alternator. Basically if it's worn or loose it can slip on the pulleys and this means the alternator will struggle to make the right voltage.

Not sure what the belt's are like on the early mk6's but on mine it's a stretch belt with no tension adjustment and I found that only the genuine ford belt was a good fit. I did have a gates branded one but that was too tight and was causing the pulleys to squeak.
2006 MK6 2.0 125 TDCI - Luton Camper Conversion
2007 MK7 2.2 110 TDCI SWB

Ford Diagnostics
Where to buy an ELM327 and how to use with ForScan
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby vampirequeen » Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:34 pm

The voltages and alternator belt are OK. Any other ideas would be welcome.
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby mjjordan » Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:46 pm

i had similar on my 2010 2.4tdci mk7. I thought all the usual stuff - took it to my (Polish !) mechanic - alternator drive pulley manufactured in two parts with a wobbly bit of rubber inbetween had separated so the belt wasn't really turning the pulley properly or getting up to the proper speed to make charging happen. worth a look at on yours?
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Re: Battery warning light

Postby mjjordan » Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:48 pm

Sorry meant crankshaft pulley.
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