Hi all,

Apologies... yet another "battery warning light / voltage Issue" I see this is a common problem with various solutions.

Just after an opinion or two on whether I will be ok driving around until the weekend and doing a longer drive on Saturday or should I look to fix the issue before then? I am part exing the car on Saturday but I have to make it to Harpenden from High Wycombe to do so!

Some details of the issue:

• About 6 weeks ago the battery light came on on my Focus (1.6 LX mk1 2005) and stayed on
• A couple of days later the car would not start after work
• I got a push start and got about half way home (approx 2.5 miles into a 5 mile journey - just moved house and journey is about half of what it was)
• Dash went blank - no speedo, lights, warning lights
• RAC called, suspected alternator, fitted a temporary battery which got me to my local garage
• They replaced the alternator, all good and oil was topped up as it was low
• A couple of weeks later the light came back
• The garage fitted another alternator (the first was faulty), all good
• Another week and the light came on then disappeared
• Back to garage, they could find no fault
• Another week on again and after a longish drive too (High Wycombe to Watford and back) light comes on and disappears
• Find dash trick to check voltage - 11.2V engine off and 13.5V engine on. Booked into an electircal specialist for fault finding.
• Have kept it in diagnostic mode showing voltage while driving and it fluctuates between 13.5V and 13.7V occasionally reaching and 11.2 - 11.4 when off (generally 11.2 ish). I have been doing a longer circuit so that my drive to/from work is a little longer (25-30 minutes instead of 10) in a bid to get some form of charge into the battery!
• Have been looking at cars any way so on Saturday I drove from High Wycombe to Slough, (light came on and went off at the services in slough), then to Harpenden and back home (no light). Placed a deposit on a car in Harpenden.
• The light has again come on on arrival at work this morning and then gone - but I've just gone out to do the dash test and it is on again...

So my question is am I safe to keep driving it and to do a motorway journey on Saturday or should I take it to the garage round the corner this evening and ask them to revisit the issue?

If your PXing it on Sat then maybe just cross your fingers and hope it lasts until then? Don't put any money into it if your getting rid. If it's driving ok then leave it.

I literally just posted this in another thread so I'm going to sound like a one-solution-pony but have you checked the coil pack? When mine failed the dash dials and the lights played up loads and prior to my car actually dying completely and failing to start, the battery light kept coming on just like you've described.

Thanks for the reply..

Not considered the coil pack but as you suggest I'm reluctant to put money into it right now. However if it's a cheap job and I could guarantee it will get me to where I need to go on Saturday then I'd take the hit. But without diagnostics I don't know how I can guarantee this.

A lot of googling tells me it is probably likely to be the smart charge cable so if this is cheap and easy and I can see an issue and get hold of a new one I might have a go at that on Thursday but at the same time I don't want to break anything between now and Saturday!

I guess I could hook up a charger to the battery and see if that improves things temporarily?

13,7v running means a smart charge issue check the fuses in the engine bay as the smart charge has a fuse if thats all okay then ide get it into ford as it will need checked by someone who knows what they are doing heres some help http://www.petercoopercarrepairs.co.uk/ford_focus_alternator_smart_charging.htm

as it says the alternator would be suspect is it the right type of battery.....silver calcium if its not it wont work

Thanks

Well it's had two alternators now so I think that can be ruled out..

Had a look in the fuse box under the bonnet and couldn't see a blown one anywhere..

The garage said that the battery was fine and taking charge..

The battery is a motor craft one which seems to be the ford oem one..

If this is a smart charge issue (which it sounds likely) is it safe to drive or should I get it into ford ASAP so it can make the journey I need to take on Saturday? Thursday would be the earliest I could take it in if they have a slot available..

From what your saying it sounds like a corroded wire in the wiring loom from alternator to pcm , quite a common fault . ford dealers know about it, some times it charges correctly sometimes it doesn't.

Thanks

Well it's had two alternators now so I think that can be ruled out..

Had a look in the fuse box under the bonnet and couldn't see a blown one anywhere..

The garage said that the battery was fine and taking charge..

The battery is a motor craft one which seems to be the ford oem one..

If this is a smart charge issue (which it sounds likely) is it safe to drive or should I get it into ford ASAP so it can make the journey I need to take on Saturday? Thursday would be the earliest I could take it in if they have a slot available..

what make of alternator were they?

No idea I know it came from allparts as I see their van delivering at the garage it was at (which is opposite where I work)

First one had a dodgy regulator according to the garage

Thought it might be an RTX brand from Eurocarparts.

Lots of dodgy reports on these.

Thought it might be an RTX brand from Eurocarparts.

Lots of dodgy reports on these.

Ah ok - it may be the same brand... Any way I think I'm going to risk the journey (carefully) on Saturday and see how I go!

If you want to keep an eye on the voltage then this might be useful.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jazooli-Digital-Cigarette-Voltmeter-Voltage/dp/B00G0HIXJ2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1438764308&sr=8-5&keywords=car+voltmeter

I've been using the dash diagnostics.. not sure how accurate they are but gives me an indication :)