Hello all, 

Any help would be appreciated,

this morning I came out to my car started it up and not long into my journey the battery symbol came up. However the car starts up fine, drives fine, everything is fine really. Just got to work and now it’s gone off after I switched engine off and on again. 
 

Does anyone know what kind of fault this could be? If any?  
 

Thank you. 

Battery not charging

Until you have discovered and rectified the fault charge the battery yourself each night or it will catch you out

Okay mate. Thanks for the reply. Had a few problems with this a few months ago and turned out it was the earth wire had gone loose, is there any chance it’s slipped again? The battery was replaced a few months ago and had a new alternator last earlier this year. 

Intermittent faults are difficult to diagnose, in the absence of great electrical prowess the obvious thing to do would be to inspect the Wiring and check for loose connections to the Battery, Alternator and Earths and give them a Wiggle with the Engine running while someone looks at the Dashboard if it is safe to do so.

An Earth should not loosen itself unless it has been disturbed at some time and I'm surprised that the Alternator has been replaced on a car this young.

Okay I will do so. Under warranty too so I guess I can get it looked at if I have any more problems and in regards to the alternator, I’m surprised too. It’s 2017 and it’s done only 59k

I also had a new battery put in earlier this year so I’m baffled as to what could be the problem. However, if the battery light doesn’t come on again should I still get it looked at? 

It came on for a reason, but finding it might not be easy.

You could tell a white lie and say it has happened a few times as long as you are not being charged for it to be looked at.

I’ll have a look at the earth cable first because that was the initial fault last time. The battery is brand new, the alternator got done early this year, besides that I don’t know what will be the problem. Thanks for the reply though mate appreciate it 🙂

Is it the correct battery?  Should be EFB for these.

On a previous forum I did post a picture of the battery and was told it’s correct and a good make. So I think so yeah mate. 

Just took it to a garage. Turns out the earth cable, it’s at the front of the bonnet, is corroded so needs to be replaced. Literally was driving home from work and steering wheel locked up and battery died, nearly crashed. Do any of you guys know how much it usually costs to be replaced?? Don’t feel like getting stiffed at the minute haha

On a 2017 car?  Has it been parked in the sea?

Can you post a picture of it to make sure we're quoting for the right one.

Cars currently at the garage, he felt it and said it feels and possibly could be corroded. I didn’t take a picture of the cable but the picture attached is what I think it is. With a new battery and new-ish alternator he said it seems likely that this is the problem? Do you think otherwise?

If it was a 2007 car I wouldn't even question it.  But I really wouldn't expect that level of corrosion on a 2017 car.  However, it's very likely that it's been twisted and bent during the battery change and other work...I doubt the garage would take responsibility for it though.

The pictured cable isn't near the front of the bonnet.  It goes from the back of the battery down to the gearbox.  Parts & labour should come in under £100 if it is that one.

Yeah mate that’s what I can’t understand. I seriously have no luck with cars at all it’s actually crazy the amount of problems I’ve had with my last 2 cars. But oh right yeah must be the wrong part i sent sorry. The picture below kind of shows you what area it’s in. Thanks again for the replies mate. You can’t see it on the picture but it’s just behind the front grill. A grey-ish, thickish coiled cable. 

20 minutes ago, Nathhh9601 said:

Cars currently at the garage, he felt it and said it feels and possibly could be corroded. I didn’t take a picture of the cable but the picture attached is what I think it is. With a new battery and new-ish alternator he said it seems likely that this is the problem? Do you think otherwise?

Sounds like he is guessing, It is not difficult to check if an attached Earth Cable is ok or not with a Multimeter and if it was corroded somewhere along its length and only loosing contact intermittently then giving it a Wiggle Test should confirm it. 

 

3 hours ago, Nathhh9601 said:

Don’t feel like getting stiffed at the minute haha

You're about to be ripped off.

There is zero chance of it being corroded.

Thanks for the replies guys but yeah honestly don’t know what to make of it. Like I said it’s a newish alternator. New battery. Had no problems with it til this afternoon when my car went completely dead in the middle of the road. I’m completely lost and just relying on this garage to see what’s wrong and sort the problem out, hopefully when they have a better look at the problem could diagnose it as something else. I’m not sure 😕 

1 minute ago, Nathhh9601 said:

Like I said it’s a newish alternator.

Unless you bought a brand new genuine Ford alternator (about £600 to £700) then you will have either a refurbished unit, or an after market replacement. If this is newish then it will still be under warranty.

6 minutes ago, unofix said:

Unless you bought a brand new genuine Ford alternator (about £600 to £700) then you will have either a refurbished unit, or an after market replacement. If this is newish then it will still be under warranty.

It got replaced by the previous owner mate. I’ve only had the car since September, paying on finance for it and bought it at 56k miles. Do a lot of journeys as I work far away. In shock at the luck I have with these cars. Just going have to wait and see what the garage say unfortunately mate

When the car died did everything die including the Lights and Dash Lights?.

When you do get the car back one of these that plugs into your Cigarette Lighter Socket would be worth spending £5 on. LED Car Van 12V 24V Battery Volt Voltage Meter Monitor Gauge Cigar Lighter Plug | eBay 

Generally if an Alternator is not working properly then you would get the Red Light on but the car would not cut out until the Battery ran down.

With one of these you can see the state of the Battery while you are driving and if the Voltage gets below 13 or 14 Volts with the Engine running then the Battery is not being charged. I'm not sure what kind of Smart Charging system your car has but it may only charge on the overrun or Idle in certain circumstances.

Take it off when you park up though because if the Cigarette Lighter Socket stays live all the time then it might drain your Battery.

14 hours ago, Nathhh9601 said:

Yeah mate that’s what I can’t understand. I seriously have no luck with cars at all it’s actually crazy the amount of problems I’ve had with my last 2 cars. But oh right yeah must be the wrong part i sent sorry. The picture below kind of shows you what area it’s in. Thanks again for the replies mate. You can’t see it on the picture but it’s just behind the front grill. A grey-ish, thickish coiled cable. 

There isn't an earth cable there.  The main battery positive goes across there from the battery to the alternator.

17 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

There isn't an earth cable there.  The main battery positive goes across there from the battery to the alternator.

That could be what he’s talking about mate. When i finish work and go up

to the garage I’ll take a better picture of it pal

13 hours ago, Tizer said:

When the car died did everything die including the Lights and Dash Lights?.

When you do get the car back one of these that plugs into your Cigarette Lighter Socket would be worth spending £5 on. LED Car Van 12V 24V Battery Volt Voltage Meter Monitor Gauge Cigar Lighter Plug | eBay 

Generally if an Alternator is not working properly then you would get the Red Light on but the car would not cut out until the Battery ran down.

With one of these you can see the state of the Battery while you are driving and if the Voltage gets below 13 or 14 Volts with the Engine running then the Battery is not being charged. I'm not sure what kind of Smart Charging system your car has but it may only charge on the overrun or Idle in certain circumstances.

Take it off when you park up though because if the Cigarette Lighter Socket stays live all the time then it might drain your Battery.

No the dash and lights came on. Just made a clicking noise and wouldn’t start up until I got it jumped. Last time when I went to the garage a few months ago over this problem he tightened an earth cable up because it was loose and my car ran perfect for a few months. Only now has this problem started again. 
thanks for the recommendation mate will definitely buy one tomorrow 

Turns out the garage that fitted my alternator before I had the car, earlier this year, has put a dodgy alternator on and now it’s not charging the battery. 
I’ve been in touch with my warranty company and hopefully they can get it sorted for me as I don’t feel like shelling out £500 for a new alternator when I’ve only had the car for 4 months!! Usually the warranty companies don’t want to pay for anything but because it’s only 1 fault, do you guys think they will shell out for it? 

50 minutes ago, Nathhh9601 said:

Usually the warranty companies don’t want to pay for anything but because it’s only 1 fault, do you guys think they will shell out for it? 

It will depend on the terms of your Warranty.

I'm still surprised that the original one went and the replacement one too. When I first started driving many years ago I have had to repair them but since then I have never had a failure including one car that I took from  under 30,000 to 275,000 miles.

In the absence of any recommendations for a properly reconditioned one I might be tempted to get one from the same year of car from a Breakers Yard if not covered by the Warranty.