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littlewren
10-01-10, 10:07 PM
Hi,

My battery on my Nova GTE had died over the very cold period and I called out the RAC today. They said the battery was faulty and replaced it with a new one free of charge as it was within the guarantee period.

However, when I started the car, the battery light came on - and it had never come on before he fitted the new battery. When he pressed the accelerator, the light went off. When I queried this, he said the alternator is probably on the way out.

My question is, if it's the alternator, then why hasn't the light come on before, why did it come on only after he fitted the new battery.

Does anyone have any idea as to why this is please? My car has done very low mileage, it's nearly 20 years old but only done 19,000 miles.

Many thanks. :)
w88rdy
10-01-10, 10:19 PM
Maybe the alternator hasnt been charging the battery properly on and off for a while causing it to go flat and now you have a fully charged new battery it has shown you the true problem,how old was the other battery?
MattBrown
10-01-10, 10:26 PM
My light only goes off after a quick blip on the loud peddle!

He could be right, it could be it's on it's way out:)
mowgli
10-01-10, 10:26 PM
if the red light keeps staying on when you start it up, then either the alternator isn't running 100%, or your tickover is a bit low

you can blame a lot of things on the current weather, so don't be too worried, and a new battery will not have the full voltage if its been on a shelf for a while, so maybe it was just catching up
Will F
11-01-10, 08:46 AM
It will be the brushes in the regulator worn in the alternator - common and cheap part to replace...

Its common to 'excite' the alternatior into charging with a blip of the throttle when they get to a certain age!
littlewren
11-01-10, 11:29 AM
Many thanks for all your helpful replies. :)

Will F, the RAC man said it would be the brushes but that I would have to have the alternator itself replaced and it would be around £100 for the part and then of course labour on top.

Would a garage just replace the brushes?
littlewren
11-01-10, 11:55 AM
w88rdy, the battery was 2 years old but the car only does short journeys anyway (hence the low mileage), although the RAC man said the battery was faulty.
Southie
11-01-10, 11:57 AM
An alternator of eGay if any good. CLICKSKI (http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=nova+gte+alternator)

Here's another CLICKY (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALTERNATOR-VAUXHALL-NOVA-1-6-CORSA-ASTRA-CALALIER-VA638_W0QQitemZ120421886520QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_C arsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item1c09b42a38)
littlewren
11-01-10, 12:02 PM
Thankyou Southie, but I need to take it into a garage to have them fix one as I can't do it myself, I'm just a helpless woman! lol
Nova_Sean
11-01-10, 12:08 PM
got any pictures of your car....

low mileage GTE could be near mint!
littlewren
11-01-10, 12:12 PM
None that I can lay my hands on, no, novamerit.
Will F
11-01-10, 01:18 PM
You can get them refurbed yes, around £30 all in....
Riggy
11-01-10, 01:51 PM
also where abouts are you , there will be loads of people that would fit it for free on here , its only a 20 min job :thumb:
littlewren
12-01-10, 04:25 PM
thanks very much Riggy, I'm not being funny but I don't know any of you! lol
mowgli
12-01-10, 05:13 PM
thanks very much Riggy, I'm not being funny but I don't know any of you! lol

seriously. little wren, we are a community of decentish people who can really help when it comes to novas.. we could recommend a garage to you, or fix your car. what is the nearest town to you then????