View Full Version : Ibiza Tdi Sport help needed
Can any fellow Ibiza TDI Sport owners help me with this.
The Alternator failed on my car and the dealer fitted a new one (exchange!) under warranty. My query is that the alternator warning light now does not come on when turning the ignition key and I cant remember if it ever did. The Dealer does'nt know either, they think that the voltmeter makes it unneccessary. I think that there is still a fault as the voltmeter can stay just below 12 volts for more than 20 miles unless the engine is given a bootfull of revs. Any help appreciated.
I dont think you will ever see a full 12volts when your car is running.
Usually 11 and a bit is the norm, if you are dropping below 10 i'd take it back.
Thing is if I rev it up enough first the voltmeter will be showing between 13 and 15 volts the wholr journey. The handbook says this is what it should show but it says nothing about wellying it first!
I'm pretty sure my battery symbol lights up with the ignition, like 99% sure. I'll check tonight, but then I won't be back on here until tomorrow (GPRS phone 200 miles away, Bluetooth range 20 metres :( )
I also think my voltmeter sits at 14 volts under 'normal' running conditions. I thought 13.x was normal to charge the battery, then sub-12 if the engine was off?
sorry, fens right, i had a multimeter on mine with the Engine OFF.
Either a problem with the voltmeter or a problem with the alternator. Under new/healthy conditions the alternator will charge the battery to 14.4V. You might not get the full 14.4V at startup, but you should after a mile or two of normal driving.
A good battery will have about 11.8V-12.6V while not being charged. You shouldn't have to fully rev the car to get the 14.4V either.
Originally posted by RB5
I'm pretty sure my battery symbol lights up with the ignition, like 99% sure. I'll check tonight, but then I won't be back on here until tomorrow (GPRS phone 200 miles away, Bluetooth range 20 metres :( )
I also think my voltmeter sits at 14 volts under 'normal' running conditions. I thought 13.x was normal to charge the battery, then sub-12 if the engine was off?
This is a one of the points I forgot to mention. Due to those lovely thin wires OEM use and the fact that the voltage shown at the voltmeter is most likely taken from the fuse box (not dirrectly off battery) you do have voltage drops. This means the voltage at the battery is usually a bit more than what you read on your voltmeter. If your getting 14V on the meter your doing fine.
I checked but then forgot to post the answer. Doh!
The battery symbol comes on with the ignition (slightly after some other lights tho...).
Immeditely after starting (not touching the accelertor) the voltmeter went up to just over 14 and then dropped to just under with the lights/stereo/climate on.
Thanks very much, your help is much appreciated. I will contact the service manager at the Dealer on Monday.
Cheers.