Ford Ka, Faulty Electrics, Battery or Altenator

maybebaby80

Hi all, looking for some advice from those 'car minded'!

In the last day I have noticed that the ignition light keeps coming on, the headlights keep dimming and the fan when on gets weaker and stronger.

We are due to drive at the weekend about 300 miles and need to get it sorted. Called usual garage but he can't take the car in till next week.

Does anyone know what the problem could be and will I be charged a fortune to take it to one of the 'high street' places?

Thanks for any advice!

molerat

Looks like the alternator is on its way out. Look up auto electrician in yellow pages. They should be able to check the system out and sort the problem. By "high street" places I assume you mean Kwikfit etc ....... don't even think about it.

Sirbendy

First, check your battery leads are on tightly. Then if you can get hold of a voltmeter, see what it reads while the car is sat with the engine off, while it is idling, and while it is idling with the lights on.

You shouldn't see much under 12 volts at any time. I've had both dying batteries (10 minutes between running fine and dead as a doornail), and alternator failures (flashing lamp on the dash/frying electrics). Try a battery charger as said to get it running well enough for short trips, and check your auxilliary belt (not a fanbelt any more) for tension - if it's slack, it won't spin the alternator at all well.

I had a renault once where I was driving home, and everything did the "faster/brighter-slower/dimmer" thing...when I got home I opened the bonnet to find a battery lead had come off! How the darned thing had kept going on alternator alone I'll never know. As soon as I shut it off, it was utterly dead.

goldspanners

alternator at a guess.

tomstickland

Alternator (alternatator) possibly not charging.
Though I'd suggest inspecting earth straps and wiring first.