The car lit up like a Christmas tree on the way home to top off a crap day where I have had to take my wife to hospital.
I got multiple warnings on the dash:
Orange gearbox fault
Orange air bag
Orange abs
Orange emergency brake
Orange parking brake
Red flashing handbrake light
I noticed the steering went heavy and the suspension light wasn’t lit in any of the positions.

My usual guy is closed as he has hurt his knee, anyone recommend in the Chester area? Any ideas where I could start?

Thanks for any help

Graham

Last edited by Gr4h4m on 4th Feb 2021 2:42pm. Edited 1 time in total

Battery faulty/low voltage?
Same for alternator?

Maybe get a trusted mechanic to test both.

I'd agree with Hermes.
Sounds to me like a weak battery and/or alternator on its way out. Possibly a belt issue that drives the alternator too.

Start by checking the battery voltage with the engine off, and then when it's running.
Should be at least 12.5V, then 14.5V running as ball park figures for you to check.

Quote:

steering went heavy

Hi all thanks,

In between everything going on I got to move the car so I could get it near a plug socket. I checked the battery

Engine running 14.9v at the battery
Car off 12.1v

So that battery looks low I have plugged in a smart charger

The battery is listed as a 92a bosh 850cca looking quickly on Halfords the battery shows as 100a 900cca

I can’t find a date on the battery. I don’t have a battery tester but I guess if it drops quickly post the charge I guess I will know.

I will check the belt

The belt is on but there was a squeak and a slight wobble from one of the tensioner when I started it up the other week. I was going to get it sorted when the bloke I use was back at work.

I found land ranger in deeside is fairly local anyone used them?

Worth checking that the battery terminals are clean and tight - i've had problems with terminals working loose.

Thanks will do.

I also remembered a thr whilst the Rev counter worked the speedo didn’t.

When I managed to move the car closer to the garage so I could get the charger plugged in I left the car running as I jumped out to open the garage door, all of the car doors locked. Luckily I had the keys in my pocket. The fob wouldn’t work, so I had to use the emergency key to gain entry.

I had bitten the bullet and ordered a new battery I managed to find a 110a 950cca which should be on its way.

I wonder if I need to invest in a scan tool.

Graham

Tool always a good investment, but if cash tight why not see if the new battery sorts your issues?

Yep I was thinking the same thing, the smart charger has got a charge into the battery and now the fob and locks are working. The battery has been ordered not sure when it will get here.
I wondered if I needed the tool or a tool to reset the faults and or configure for a new battery? I presume once the old one is removed it should clear I also read on here to touch the terminals together when it’s out to ensure that everything has discharged. I will read the battery replacement thread.

I think at some point owning a gap tool will be a wise investment

Hi as an Update I have put a 019 in as I need the car running and the online company I had used were in Germany (even tho the website made it look like a UK company).

I did try a 020 but it was too big to clamp into the the tray properly, so I settled on a 100A 900CCA. I did noticed whoever changed it last time never put the drain back on so the negative terminal needed a clean up. Everything has gone back-together ok. I have also put the car on the smart charger as you never know how long they sit about.

I will need to test it next.

Graham

I've had this! It was the the belt and pulley system. If you keep driving individual systems shut down one at a time, radio, wipers dials and power steering.

The power steering going is quite the experience, unbelievably heavy with out assistance. Good news is that its a relatively cheap fix. Not one to do your self as the viscous fan thing is terrifying

Yes I did think I would be lucky if it was just then battery but it was very low. So its worth the change, I will test it tomorrow.

If it’s running slightly off the tensioner or the tensioner is wobbling then the tensioner will need replacing. It’s not a hard job, took me a couple of hours. I would say that the belt is the difficult part as it needs the VF to come off which, but unless the belt is fubar then it should be Ok.

I did a how to somewhere on here.
https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic48934.html There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

So I have made it worse. I put the new battery in and charged it over night and if you push the start button everything lights up and all of the faults show, if you push to start the car everything goes out and doesn’t even try to start. Then it came up low power and shut down.
So I have it worse I presume I now need an iid tool or a garage that has one oh and a flat bed...