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JonJop



Member Since: 23 Jan 2018
Location: St Agnes
Posts: 63

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Arles Blue
Battery light
My battery light cane on this morning for about 5 mins, then flickered a few times and went off. Any ideas why it would have been on?

Thanks
Post #682248 28th Jan 2018 10:11am
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20487

United Kingdom 
Battery voltage low. (Typically after cranking).

Have you done many short trips lately? Maybe worth checking Alternator charging current just to see it's doing its job properly. No Guts, No Glory.
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธโ›ฝ๏ธ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธโš™๏ธ๐Ÿงฐ๐Ÿ’ช
Post #682267 28th Jan 2018 11:55am
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MadTom



Member Since: 10 Sep 2013
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 628

Czech Republic 1999 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Baltic Blue
Battery light with running engine means problem with charging. It is time to check that it charges enough, measuring battery voltage with idling engine and with all power consumers (lights, fan, heating, ...) powered on. . There is no connection between battery voltage and this light, but with not working alternator, the voltage will be low. "Drobek" = The Small One - Discovery 2, "Blufรญnek" = The Blue Thing - Defender 130, and for me at least Ford Mondeo Smile
Post #682281 28th Jan 2018 1:19pm
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Marks Landy



Member Since: 09 Feb 2015
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 299

United Kingdom 1985 Defender 90 200 Tdi SW Java Black
Is your alternator drive belt tight enough?
Post #682320 28th Jan 2018 3:49pm
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JonJop



Member Since: 23 Jan 2018
Location: St Agnes
Posts: 63

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Arles Blue
Been out in her all day today and seems fine again. I did install a headunit and amp yesterday so do have the ignition on for parts of it whilst testing which could have been the issue. Also, the handbrake light has only worked intermittently today so it could perhaps be a bad connection going into the panel?
Post #682355 28th Jan 2018 6:11pm
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JonJop



Member Since: 23 Jan 2018
Location: St Agnes
Posts: 63

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Arles Blue
Wife just called to say the light is on again. Is there a way of checking if there is a drain on the battery when the ignition is turned off? Just wondering if the fact the light started coming on the day after I fitted an amp is coincidential, or, if the amp is draining the battery causing the light to come on when we start it?
Post #682845 30th Jan 2018 9:53am
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Mash



Member Since: 09 Feb 2015
Location: Guernsey
Posts: 1674

Guernsey 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Nato Green
I had an issue on mine for a few months until I replaced the alternator, my charge warning light would randomly come on go out, some drives would be fine some would be on all the way, no starting issues/ dim lights etc.

I fluked tested the alternator with and without the light on and had 24-26v (on a Wolf 24v running system) so my alternator was just producing enough power to run the vehicle, fitted a new alternator once I could afford one and itโ€™s been fine since. 90 wolf - Jasmin http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39408.html
90 V8 - Maggie http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic42564.html
110 TD5 - Buggsy http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic59029.html
52HG25 lightweight https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72342.html
D3 Hse - Fiona
Capri 2l S - Anna

Think I might have a problem............
Post #682848 30th Jan 2018 10:01am
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JonJop



Member Since: 23 Jan 2018
Location: St Agnes
Posts: 63

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Arles Blue
Eliminated the amp being a drain.

With the ignition off I have constant power from the power cable and no power from the switch cable. When the ignition is on the switch cable becomes live and powers the unit up.

Iโ€™ll check the alternator. Just posted a question about the clock bulb so if anyone can lend their electrical expertise on that one it would be much appreciated!
Post #682938 30th Jan 2018 4:49pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20487

United Kingdom 
When you fitted all your audio kit, did you ensure you isolate the battery and interior lights were off?

If not, which really should be the interior lights will put a fair drain on the battery whilst working on it with the doors open.

If you have the motor running, check for voltage at the battery after a couple of minutes.

It should be circa 13.8v - 14.5v ish which should show your Alternator is charging the battery which it should be doing after cranking as that is when a large draw is put on the battery reserve capacity.
Normally Defender batteries are very good from the factory, is yours standard? How old is it?

I have had similar myself before, but it went soon enough when battery was back up to good voltage and reserve.
Also, check battery post clamps are tight.

It's often caused by a power draw without the engine running whilst doing work on it. Which is why I always turn interior lights off or any main electrical work and disconnect the battery completely.
Thumbs Up No Guts, No Glory.
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธโ›ฝ๏ธ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธโš™๏ธ๐Ÿงฐ๐Ÿ’ช


Last edited by custom90 on 30th Jan 2018 6:35pm. Edited 2 times in total
Post #682959 30th Jan 2018 6:18pm
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JonJop



Member Since: 23 Jan 2018
Location: St Agnes
Posts: 63

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Arles Blue
Thanks mate - yep, had the lights turned off and isolated the battery whilst doing the install.

We have done a couple of short trips this weekend too which could have caused it.

I'll run a test on the battery to see if it could be the alternator at the weekend.

Thanks for all the help guys.
Post #682960 30th Jan 2018 6:29pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20487

United Kingdom 
It could well be that alone, especially associated with the cold weather.

Defenders do struggle a bit, especially in the winter with on-going regular short trips only. No Guts, No Glory.
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธโ›ฝ๏ธ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธโš™๏ธ๐Ÿงฐ๐Ÿ’ช
Post #682962 30th Jan 2018 6:37pm
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JonJop



Member Since: 23 Jan 2018
Location: St Agnes
Posts: 63

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Arles Blue
Thanks again - I must say, I absolutely love the old thing so far!
Post #682977 30th Jan 2018 7:06pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20487

United Kingdom 
Thumbs Up No Guts, No Glory.
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธโ›ฝ๏ธ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธโš™๏ธ๐Ÿงฐ๐Ÿ’ช
Post #682982 30th Jan 2018 7:15pm
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JonJop



Member Since: 23 Jan 2018
Location: St Agnes
Posts: 63

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Arles Blue
I can hear a bit of a belt squeal - will get it tightened up this weekend and I think the battery light may go off!
Post #683648 2nd Feb 2018 3:46pm
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JonJop



Member Since: 23 Jan 2018
Location: St Agnes
Posts: 63

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Arles Blue
The mystery continues with this one.

Checked the belt and it seems tight - no obvious signs of it slipping when running.

I put a multimeter on the battery and has a reading of 12.18v when the engine wasnโ€™t running. Fired it up and the reading jumped to 13.8v so everything seems to be as it should be there.

The battery light is still on though. Iโ€™m a little baffled by this one now.
Post #683864 3rd Feb 2018 5:10pm
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