Battery light stays on

[greatuncle]

2006 Fusion 1.4 TDCI

I was driving last night and the battery light was going on and off, on for 5-10 minutes and off for 5 minutes or so. I drove home and this morning I had a flat battery.

I got a new battery as it looks like it battery is the original one from 2006 I got a new one. Started the car up and the light was still on. The guy said it's unlikely to be the alternator and the ECU might take a few minutes to reset and it'll probably go off. Well it didn't.

Do you think it's likely to need a new alternator?

[alexp999]

The battery light means it is running from the battery. As soon as the engine is running it should go off.

It's almost certainly the alternator.

[dezwez]

yes i say its the  alternator

[Jethro_Tull]

Quite likely alternator.  It's but the work of a moment to test the output.

 

Your guy shouldn't be allowed to own spanners.

[jmurray01]

That "guy" doesn't know what he's talking about.  If the battery light comes on AT ANY TIME when the engine is running, it means the battery is not receiving a charge.  As soon as it does, the light will extinguish, there is no such thing as it taking a while to "reset".

[dezwez]

well said 

20 minutes ago, jmurray01 said:

That "guy" doesn't know what he's talking about.  If the battery light comes on AT ANY TIME when the engine is running, it means the battery is not receiving a charge.  As soon as it does, the light will extinguish, there is no such thing as it taking a while to "reset".

 

[greatuncle]

Thanks guys, I'll get a new alternator.

[Stoney871]

Bash it with a hammer.
Used to have to do that to an old honda I had many moons ago.
The occasional wallop was enough to make the brushes make contact again and got me another 3 months of life before the alternator was finally replaced.

Sent from my SM-G930F