What could be wrong?

[colic]

This is going to be a long post I think!

My first problem started last week, I set off from work put the headlights on the dash seemed to be very dull. Then the battery light popped lit up on the dash, then I looked at the battery gage and it was hovering about 12 if I used anything electical like the rear heated windscreen it would drop to like 9 or so.

I got home started the car in the morning and the battery light was still there and it showed about 12 again on the volt meter. I reved the car to about 4,000 rpm and the battery meter dissapered and all was fine.

I havent used my car much recently. But this evening I was driving and all was fine with sidelights but I noticed that the dash was extreemly bright alot brighter then it normaly is. Then I looked at the volt meter and it was well past 16 as far right as it could go.

Then I was driving along and all of a sudden the electric light? (the one that has an electric sign in a box type thing and is orange, it is directly below the brake warning light that stays on until you press your brake) I noticed the dash dim right down and the volt meter plummet to about 10. I stopped at my friends house and tried turning on my headlights there was nothing there.

Then the air bag warning light was showing but then if I pressed the fog light button the air bag warning light would go off. The electric windows would only go up in stutters. By which time the volt meter again was reading max past the 16.

I drove home but tried turning the headlights on but they would not work. Then as I was driving along the volts dropped again. I tried pressing the rear heated windscreen button but nothing. Then the air bag warning light would flicker on and off and that wierd electric symbol was showing. At which point with just sidelights on and nothing else the volt meter was reading 8 volts and the dash was barely readable as it was that dimly lit.

I am going to try and book it in to an electrics place on Tuesday, but was wondering if any one else had there electrics go haywire all of a sudden.

I also notice a whirry type noise coming from the engine bay if this has any relevance?

[Smurf]

Alternator - without a doubt.

What engine?

[colic]

<!--QuoteBegin-Smurf+--><div class='quotetop'>(Smurf)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Alternator - without a doubt.

What engine?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Its a 2.0 16v Ecotech!

Its booked into the garage now but they cant fit it in until Thursday [img]/sad.gif[/img]

[Kieran_Burns]

100% Alternator

[fatbloater78]

defo alternater

[colic]

/get wallet out
/cries
/consumes beer
/feels better

[Robs-se]

The worse my alternator got the brighter the dash lights went. ended up melting my sun glasses.

Change the alternator. A half hour job (chuckle):whistle:

[Robert_Dale]

Don't listen to them lot above they know nothing.....its your alternator

[img]/smile.gif[/img] [img]/laugh.gif[/img]

[chief]

if i were you i'd check your alt.........oh bugger, just do what the other guys say:D [img]/biggrin.gif[/img]