battery warning light

I have a 89 328 and the battery warning light is on when the car is on tick over though it is a very dull glow, it gets brighter as the revs increase and is also intermitent, any ideas??
Regards, Roy

 

The light warns you that the alternator/regulator is bad. And it obviously is.

 

Just had same with mine last week. Alternator rebuilt. No more problem.

 

i think i have the same problem.

 

Can you check if the regulator/Alternator is failing in situ?

 

Check your alternator belt isn't slipping first. I had this a couple of years ago & it was just a loose belt. Bit of a pig to get to but not impossible.

 

Just had the belts done, is there a way to check them?

 

Then its quite possible the Alt belt tensioner wasn't tightened up properly. Wouldn't be the first ;-)

Wheel off, inner arch out & you can get to it. The alt belt should be reasonably tight but doesn't need to be ridiculously so. You'll know if its too loose.

If its a bad regulator then the replacement is about 15 quid. It might be possible (but not easy) to change it insitu but on balance you'd probably want to take it out - which is a pig of a job with the engine in.

Fingers X'd its just the belt needs tightening!

 

Without the aircon pump, getting the alternator out isn't really a big deal. 20 minutes work at the most.

Remove the righthand wheel, get the wheel well out and the alternator is right in front (ish) of you.

You'll then need some 17mm and 19 mm wrenches to get the thing off there, plus an 8 mm one to take the protective cover off before you can remove the wiring from the back of the alternator.

 

Thanks very much guys, I will check the belt this weekend, the aircon pump is of the car at the moment as it is leaking and I am considering having it refurbed.
I had a quote of £170 to £270 depending on the work needed, is that good?
If I have to take the Alternator out can a regulator be fitted with my fair hands?
Regards, Roy

 

Yes, its very easy. You just take the back off the alternator & the regulator pack is right there (and includes new brushes).

If you are going to take it out then have a read up on how you get it out because it ain't easy! I honestly can't see how you do it without major disassembly though I have read it will come out the bottom.

It may be that the thing to do is to unbolt it & then turn it on its end so that you can get to the back of it & work on it from underneath but in situ.

One thing you will find is that if the long mounting bolt is in from the factory then it will be the case that you actually can't get it out because its too long & fouls on the starter behind. I think the thing to do is actually to undo the three nuts that secure the Alt mounting bracket to the block & then rotate the thing so that you can then remove the long bolt & separate the alternator from its mounting bracket. Maybe have a look at my engine bay thread on CS, I think there might be some pics of it in there. If not I probably have some others.

 

Thanks Iain it sounds quite a big job to remove it, I will have a look at some of your pics, I hope its the belts!!