The car is a manual NA.

 

Right the problems are that the battery light somtimes comes on at low revs/tickover which I've put down to a knackered alternator except that going back through the cars history the current one is only 10k old from new.

Also the engine will cut out, the climate control display will scramble and disappearunder accelleration, the "light" light comes on under braking and the headlights dim when i change gear.

 

Apart from that it's just peachy:headvswal

What state's the earthing in?

Check your terminals are tight, check the earth strap is attached to the top gearbox bolt and perhaps get yourself a Grounding kit.

 

Also check the battery voltage with engine running.

I was thinking bad earthing as you can hear the ignition through the radio.

Where is the earthing strap located please?

It goes from the battery negative terminal, and is then bolted in 3 or 4 places to the bulkhead before ending at one of the top gearbox bellhousing bolts.

 

You can follow it from the engine bay down the back of the engine, and you should be able to reach down and feel if its bolted to the bellhousing. You;ll need to remove battery first.

Could be battery knackered/poor lead condition- especially 'headlights symptom looks as if running on purely alternator and as revs drop on gearchange and therefore alternator revs drop, lights dim (assuming belt not slipping?).

 

How does it start?- if battery discharged or break in circuit, engine will cut out.

 

Easy to test output from alternator with meter, if OK and battery OK then must be lead condition.

 

Regards

 

Dave

It'll be the negative battery lead, it snapped last year so i crimped it bac so the crimp must be failing. gay.

Check the fuse box in the footwell, often water ingress down the back of it will cause damage and many of tyhe electrical problems similar to yours can be cause by this.

 

Also check the fuse in the black relay box on the passenger side inner wing marked "engine cont" ( red 10 amp ) even if it appears ok change it, if this goes high resistance ( not blown ) this feeds the battery light which is the "exciter" circuit for the alternator to start charging.

 

Jeff TT