Signum Alternator

[Andy Henry]

I have a 2006 cdti 150 Signum which i parked in my garage last night in perfect working order only to find out this morning it was as dead as a DODO.The very nice man from the AA took me to the local VX dealer where the Signum now waits for a new alternator to arive.Any body else had the same trouble? don't cars have warning lights anymore to tell you something is going wrong?

[Duncan]

If the alternator isn't charging the battery then yes, a warning light should come on.

How was the AA man so sure it was an alternator and not just the battery going duff (which is the more likely option I'd have thought - not too mention the most common of the two).

[GazVXLINE170]

Think Vx are good for this - no lights but there is something wrong

Gazza4

[Andy Henry]

No warning lights came on at all,the car has had no trouble starting.The AA man tested the alternator and said it was giving out no charge.The local VX dealer says that the warning light is not forced to come on which i find very strange,surely you must get some warning!!!

[GazVXLINE170]

All I can think of is something has managed to drain the battery - ie not been turned off properly. This can usually happen if a relay had fused closed.

It has effectively 'shorted' the battery as it is still letting some electrical load when the ignition and engine is off - air con for example consume electrical power - when there is nothing recharging the battery.

Gazza4

[taxidriver50005]

just had my alternator pack in again, no charge light didnt come on either but deffo not charging.

[Andy Henry]

VX dealer says that there was a few faulty alternators fitted from new, but does not know to which cars.

[ed taylor]

I agree with what Gazza4 has said. the alternator has "drained" the battery, that is why you did not get the "battery" light on. If you were driving the car the light might have come on as you would not have been putting a charge into the battery.

[culberi]

I'm same, 2005 cdti 150, no warning lights then batter dead. Vx confirmed dead alternator, £500 to fix and 6 weeks to wait for new alternator.

[taxidriver50005]

tok the alternator belt off and started the car and the battery light goes out, no alternator connected should mean light on but not with vx why!!!!