1.9cdti - high idle speed and new "noise"

[mossie]

First post - so hope someone knows what I should be looking for !

04 1.9 cdti - engine new (under warranty - oil pressure problem) about 15k miles ago.

Just started this weekend - idle speed has now moved up to 1100 - used to be a steady 750 ish, and there is a new "whurring" noise which is engine speed related.

Oh - and I had to put about 250ml of water in her recently to top her up, warning light came on when I was parked on a steep incline - which is why I checked but it was hardly a huge amount and it was not on the minimum level.

Seems to drive ok - no warning lights/lack of power etc ...Doesn't run on when turned off, starts fine - or is it me and it is taking a few more turns now before she fires in the morning - but it is colder than of late...

Baffled.

But I know it's not right..

Cheers

[mossie]

So, normal start this morning, engine light within 5 yards of moving off, restart - extinguished -

Idle 1100

after 1/2 mile - cigarette lighter socket powered gps - goes off and on.

after another half mile - abs/traction control lights on
3 seconds later - loss of power steering
2 seconds later - power steering warning light.

park.

turn off
turn on - all the lights - but no start - all the lights go off and a clunking from a solenoid I had not heard since I drove 1960 mini's when I turn the key...

Call recovery.

Arrived - car started - but still got it recovered to dealer.

I think the problem is this - but only my thoughts - others welcome !

Alternator/charging circuit/battery is not behaving - when it did start it definitely did sound as energetic when turning over as normal.

This may explain the interesting behaviors of the gps/abs lights /a and the power steering (which I believe has an electric/electronic conponent(

So - that added to this new "noise" / "whine" I heard over the weekend (strangely not there after it all fell in a heap this morning - finally broke ?) - which could be an alternator/charging circuit issue - then we could be on the track of the solution..

Also - this air con valve under the glove box - seems to happily click at regular intervals even when the car is turned off and locked... So is that having a drain on the battery enough that it drops below a trigger voltage, the cars electronic wizardry gets upset - but the power in the battery is still enough to heat the glow plugs, turn on the fuel pump and turn her over.....

See what I'm thinking ? The top tech chap at the dealer concurred with me anyway - so let's see what they find.

I've got the advert ready for my wife's car so I can sell it to pay for the repair....

Anyone else got an idea ?

Cheers

[_ZS_]

50p says the alternator ate itself.

[mossie]

Alternator - 10 V output...... Could have done that myself....Luckily with the full explanation I gave them they had it identified in a few minutes - so not too much of a bill for labour...

Still - it's only £531 inc vat to supply and fit......