Hi guys

The other night I get a "Charging System Fault" and the battery symbol light up on the dash. -
I got home, 30 min drive, nothing seemed to shut down. IID showed low voltage on the top corner but no faults as such, just restricted performance which would not clear.

I am too busy to even deal with it right now, I was just happy to make it home. Since then it started fine as I needed to move it and also I didn't get a "low battery" warning. "Charging System Fault" did come up though. But it cranked and started fine.

I know the alternators go, but before that shall I check other stuff first, eg battery terminals?

Cheers. Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

Last edited by GGDR on 4th Oct 2024 4:53pm. Edited 2 times in total

I had exactly the same issue, and was told I needed a new alternator despite it being only 4 years old. I fiddled with the battery condition monitor connector at the battery, and 3 months on the fault has not returned. Nothing like a free fix! 2011MY 4.4TDV8 Autobiography Baltic Blue
TVR Griffith
Alfa Romeo Mito QV

oh that's very interesting RR2B
any chance of a pic of that connector? Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

Greg,
A picture I took several years ago when I replaced my battery.
I didn’t unplug the connector because there was sufficient slack in the cable to just move it out of the way.
Early cars like my 2011 have the cooling fan attached to the BCU, but later 2012 cars don’t have a fan.

Cheers
Mike.

GGDR wrote:

oh that's very interesting RR2B
any chance of a pic of that connector?

Hi Greg, I’m pretty sure it was the connector with the blue wires on the negative terminal. It was also suggested that an alternator brush could be stuck. Maybe coincidence and the brush ‘unstuck’ itself at the same time I cleaned up the connector. When the error code came up, the charging voltage dropped from 14.3V to 13.7V. Hope this helps. 2011MY 4.4TDV8 Autobiography Baltic Blue
TVR Griffith
Alfa Romeo Mito QV

Hi all.

Thanks for the pics of the battery area connectors, checked and fine so a new Denso alternator went in and that was definitely the culprit. I do believe mine has had one done already at about 70k miles which seems the common life expectancy of these things.

And that lines up with my milage at 127k needing another or even sooner than 70k life expectancy. :0

Dear Denso, make your alternators better. Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

Last edited by GGDR on 6th Oct 2024 6:49am. Edited 1 time in total

One last plug I can't for the life of me find its mate.
The plug is passenger side just down from the top corner of the rad pack

Can anyone help?

Pics or tips most appreciated

First pic for orientation, second photo shows the plug on my finger

Click image to enlarge

Found it. Cheers! Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

The fan cowl is the in this job i.e. changing the alternator.

Was very happy to see the battery symbol disappear of the dash screen.


. Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway