Battery Warning Light

[Lost_Pete]

The battery warning light came on last week for about 5 minutes and then went out. Didn't come back on.

I checked all the connections and replaced the brushes on the alternator. They were worn but should have been okay. (Hint: Desolder the brush leads in a box so that when the wire slips free the spring pushing on the brush doesn't shoot off into the wild blue yonder!)

Tonight the battery warning light came on for about a minute then went off.

Any ideas? Regulator perhaps?

What's the cost of a regulator or alternator?

[Cogez]

I paid $65 for a new regulator, it's a common fault for the bushes to wear down after a while. I got mine from Repco. It's pretty simple to install, as long as you're careful not to snap the bushes off as you slide it into the alternator.

Have some fun with it, it feels good to clean all the crap out from under the alternator. You know you love your car when you clean places you know no one will ever see

[Morton]

Have some fun with it, it feels good to clean all the crap out from under the alternator. You know you love your car when you clean places you know no one will ever see

haha, I just did the exact same thing last week ^^ If your alternator is causing the light to come on/off, don't bother reconditioning it. Just get a recon one for $50, or a second hand one for $20-30. Fixed the problem for me

[dijm8]

yep happend to me a few weeks ago, wen it cam on, made my battery go dead cause the alt wasnt working so i put a vr 1 in works perfect now

[beefcream]

do the vr alternators side straight on? they look a bit better to me lol

[Lost_Pete]

Update to this thread.

Ended up fitting a new regulator ($45) which seems to have fixed it.

For what its worth;

New Bosch alternator $250 (Super Cheap).

Reconditioned one $140 to $210. I'm sure people can find it cheaper but these were prices quoted to me across three Sydney suburbs.

Didn't check the price from a wreckers.

Most of the places I spoke to suggested changing the regulator first. Also it appears that the warning light needs to work otherwise your alternator may not work as the warning light provides an initial field excitation to help get the alternator working.

The VN Wagon must be looking for attention though. Over the last few months it decided it wanted a clutch, then tyres, then an alternator and this week it wanted a new exhaust mount.

[Morton]

Holy **** that's expensive

If you're ever chasing a second hand alternator again, browse through e-bay. They tend to go for $30-$50 online, and one crops up from week to week. Handy to have a spare hanging around just in case. I'll never drive interstate without an alternator as part of my emergency kit... was with a mate out on the prinny highway when his alternator died. Long tow home

[Lost_Pete]

Update to this thread.

Ended up fitting a new regulator ($45) which seems to have fixed it.

For what its worth;

New Bosch alternator $250 (Super Cheap).

Reconditioned one $140 to $210. I'm sure people can find it cheaper but these were prices quoted to me across three Sydney suburbs.

Didn't check the price from a wreckers.

Most of the places I spoke to suggested changing the regulator first. Also it appears that the warning light needs to work otherwise your alternator may not work as the warning light provides an initial field excitation to help get the alternator working.

The VN Wagon must be looking for attention though. Over the last few months it decided it wanted a clutch, then tyres, then an alternator and this week it wanted a new exhaust mount.

UPDATE

The alternator warning light hasn't come on after two weeks.