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Sept 1, 2016 21:48:17 GMT
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My Honda 1.7 CDTI is displaying the battery sign permantly . I manged to drive it home with the lights a little dimmer than usual . Electrickery is the devils work to me so i need some guidence.
Upon googling the first thing I'm going to do is check the PAS fluid level as this can make the light stay on if its low apparently , and i may have been imagining the dimmer lights .
Next i presume its the battery or alternator so I'm off to buy a multimeter tomorrow . Am i right in thinking if i check across the battery with it switched off it should be no less than 12 v so if it is the battery is goosed ? Then if i start it and check again it should be more , so if it isn't i can presume its the alternator ?
I don't really want to buy a alternator if its not needed so what do people think ?
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Sept 1, 2016 23:37:47 GMT
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Hi, Why are you going to check the PAS is the steering heavy? Is the drive belt still there and tight? If it's not then that may be why the battery lights on. If that's OK then check with the meter. Yes, no less than 12v and when started it should show as much as 14v. If not then get the alternator repaired.
Colin
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Checking the PAS fluid as i google the problems and civics and astras with the same engine seem to make the battery light come on when the PAS fluid gets very low , as the steering is electric or something . I know its not that and its likely the alternator but it would obviously be much better if it was bit of fluid !
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,241 
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Modern electrickery question.Rich
@foxmcintyre
Club Retro Rides Member 160
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My Honda 1.7 CDTI is displaying the battery sign permantly . I manged to drive it home with the lights a little dimmer than usual . Electrickery is the devils work to me so i need some guidence. Upon googling the first thing I'm going to do is check the PAS fluid level as this can make the light stay on if its low apparently , and i may have been imagining the dimmer lights . Next i presume its the battery or alternator so I'm off to buy a multimeter tomorrow . Am i right in thinking if i check across the battery with it switched off it should be no less than 12 v so if it is the battery is goosed ? Then if i start it and check again it should be more , so if it isn't i can presume its the alternator ? I don't really want to buy a alternator if its not needed so what do people think ? FIRST thing to check is weather the alternator belt is still there. Then battery voltage. Below 12 is ok, below 11 then it's getting bad. It won't be the battery though. Check voltage again with the engine running, should at least make 13.5 or more. If no notable change, it's either the alternator or a wiring fault. I'd say this is possibly new enough to have smart charging. I'm doubtful the PAS, even if it's E-H PAS would put the charge failure warning lamp on. |
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Yes pas belt is there . I'm only going to check the fluid because about 3 other forum post i goggle mentioned it - i know its not that though . What is smart charging , is that something to worry about ?
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guessing its an ep not an fn/fd? as the newer ones are electric steering.
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No idea what that means tbh , its a 2002 model.
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I would say alternator as the lights shouldn't be dim if it's working correctly even if the battery is going.
I thought the battery is mainly to start the car, the running of the car is the alternator.
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1994 BMW 525i touring
2004 BMW Z4 sorn and broken
1977 Ford Escort
1982 Ford Capri getting restored
1999 Mazda B2500 daily driver.
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Sept 2, 2016 10:38:02 GMT
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Well after a lot of faffing . I went to get a multi meter from argos . Said they had one in stock . They didnt . Tried eurocarparts , no luck . Then i remembered screwfix next door . Crappy multimeter £8 . Voltage 12 ish then about 12.3 started . New alternator £135 .
Realistic driving back i thought I'm not going to be able to do this . The bumper and front panel have to come off and the rad and intercooler out . I have tools but not torx things or the other wierd shaped things . Or things to get those nasty hose clamps off. The main thing i was worried about were all the belts and stuff . I really couldnt see anything and i don't have a haynes manual or any honda forum step by step for it . Managed to get it into a dodgy local garage just now , even though i cannot really afford it .
Thanks for your help everyone .
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Sept 2, 2016 12:14:29 GMT
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Day is going from bad to worse . Mechanics phoned me up screaming that the alternator doesn't fit , it has a oil pump attached which does not fit . Told me to sort it out ! Phoned eurocarparts with number of new alternator , yes sir that correct .
Called back garage - call back at 2 we are on lunch !
Great , i wont be using those a-holes again after this .
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Sept 2, 2016 13:31:25 GMT
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Change garages! thats a VACUME pump on tha back of the alt NOT an oil pump, if they don't even know that i'd be worried  IIRC there is a wide spline so the pump only goes on the spline one way and you line that up then rotate the pump to line up with the bolt holes before pushing it all the way onto the pump/spline, of course you may have the wronge alt but check they are linning the pump/alt up correctly. |
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R.I.P photobucket
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Sept 2, 2016 13:47:02 GMT
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I'm truly up curse word creek here. They have my car in bits . Ive been told he can get the right one and it wouldn't have happened if he had got it ! I knew it was a vacuum pump as well , i think for the brakes . They basically have me over a barrel here so i have to stump up £360 for it !I'm talking the old pump and will most likely see if i can go to trading standards . I don not have much money and i have to have the car for work on monday .
He said the oil pump was leaking so we shall have to see . How he thinks he will get the right part i do not know in less than a hour [ he is doing it now] Surely he would have got the wrong part as well oredering from the reg number ? I think he is just thick as as i asked if there was no wany the pumps could be swapped ?
I really do not expect a ear full him telling me ' it dunt fit ' ' YOU NEED TO SORT IT ' 'IT WUNT AVE APPENED IF I AD OREDERD IT '
I think he will be fitting eaxctely the same part . I only went to this garage as the other one could not fit me in for a week . I went there about 5 years ago with a seat leon with broken drop links and he passed it on the mot saying ' i had to fit new rear pads ' .My arrse he did .I think he a serial upseller and i shall be making a few inquiries and complaints.
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Sept 2, 2016 13:48:35 GMT
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Excuse spelling computer is having a fit .
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Sept 2, 2016 13:53:32 GMT
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And I'm between a rock and a hard place here . If i try to tell them they are doing it wrong i suspect they will just drag my car out and leave it in bits . All this despite being the towns number 1 garage apparently .
I shall get the old part and compare it to the part from eurocarparts i will be taking for a refund . I bet they cannot locate it all of a sudden .
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,241
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Modern electrickery question.Rich
@foxmcintyre
Club Retro Rides Member 160
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Sept 2, 2016 17:32:16 GMT
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This is why as a garage, we personally and politely refuse to fit 'customer supplied parts'. Don't take that the wrong way, as secondly, Euro are awful for supplying wrong parts. Many a time I've been sent a clutch kit for something, for it to be wrong and then have them turn round and say the car must have the wrong gearbox.
They aren't the best..
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Sept 2, 2016 17:39:59 GMT
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Yes i can see your point , but you think a alternator would be pretty hard to mess up - and there is no need to go mental at me as they did . I would not be surprised if bortaf was right as he kept calling the vacuum pump a oil pump , and saying it was knackered . They were supposed to ring me at 4.30 but didnt so i walked round there in the rain. They had shut up and buggered off despite them being open till 5.30.
I should also add i recognised the bloke i dealt with there . I took a car there about 5 years ago with a slightly blowing exhaust . broken anti roll bar links etc - i had a fair bit of money then so was prepared for them to fail it and fix it all . They passed it ignoring all that but telling me they had to fit rear brake pads [ which they hadn't]
So i would not be surprised that the bloke just wanted me to buy one off them as he obviously makes extra money selling unnecessary parts to customers . Looking online there has been a complaint about that . I dealt with other people there and its been fine but this bloke can barely be bothered to speak. I think he has been transported in time from the 70s myself .
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Sept 2, 2016 20:39:33 GMT
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TBH as a garage owner we do make on the parts yes but that covers phone calls and extras like cleaning oil leaks (degreaser or brake cleaner, penatrating fluid ect ect) but to be fully honest i usually just add a fiver and pass the discount i get on parts on to the owner BUT that is not the usuall way to do it (don't take that the wronge way  ) most garages will keep the whole discount (usually 10% ish) and as above i hate fitting customer supplyed parts for the same reasoon as above, mind you i tend to be polite to customers when it happens The vacume pumps ate oil fed and there will probably be a ring seal in between the alt and pump that can leak or the return hose is leaking, they go brittle and leak a lot, i usually have to trim them down as replacements are £40 ish cos the pipe is shaped and the turn is tight and straight pipes kink when you bend them  they are tight to get at on the astra but your application is way worse for access unfortunatly hope it all gets sorted without you geting shafted |
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R.I.P photobucket
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Sept 2, 2016 20:53:31 GMT
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Well they didn't call me and buggered off so i will have to see tomorrow . I really do think they are a dodgy bunch , this one chap in particular . They seem to be a place treats people as they wish . There are so many people in this town and not that many garages so they are usually all booked up for 2 weeks , so they are in charge really .
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) most garages will keep the whole discount (usually 10% ish) and as above i hate fitting customer supplyed parts for the same reasoon as above, mind you i tend to be polite to customers when it happens 
they are tight to get at on the astra but your application is way worse for access unfortunatly