Ibiza / cordoba problem

[hoggy a]

hi guys was at a car auction last week looking for a car for the wife to go to work in,anyhow came across a mint condition cordoba se 130 tdi,cars got 70k miles on it with full history and bills with it,now the only problem it has before i gave her it is when i valeted it i left it on tick over with all the lights on including the front fogs,when i turned it off it then had a flat battery and need jump starting,since then ive charged it up it starts 1st time,it doesnt have any warning lights on the dash "battery light" or nothing else,dont want to give it to her if its going to break down on her,any ideas what problem could be,any help would be great thanks

[Guinness]

If the battery light doesnt come on when you turn the ignition on. Its most likely the alternator load signal wire next to the gear box. Its a very common problem and there is numerous guides for it.

But baisicly get under the car, remove any engine tray that may be present and look arround by the gear box. There is a connecting block. Usually a wire or two may have come loose, remove the block and solder some joining wire in to fix accordinly. Tie out of the way and jobs a good 'un.

If you put a multimeter on the battery and it doesnt increase when you turn the car over thats your poblem I would say. Mine used to charge if you increased the revs to 4k, it would then charge at tick over.

Failing that it might just be a duff battery or alternator.