[4age] [ae101] the neverending saga

[agrath]

The neverending saga...
I had a lot of problems with lack of performance etc, so as a preventative measure i changed the oil and the oil filter (and also cause the oil was really dirty).
About a week after changing the filter, it seemed to spring a leak. Figuring it had came undone a little, we tightened it up and then 3 days later the seal split and the car lost all its oil.
I replaced the filter and refilled the oil yesterday morning and then took it for a test drive and was met with crackling oil sounds and a lot of smoke. I waited til 8 for someone to come and have a look for me, and he confirmed that there seemed to be no engine faults but my oil was a little high, so i spent some time that evening and drained some oil out and topped it up again. By this stage it was dark, cold, raining and late.
During the night, at about 3.30am, my car alarm went off. Despite my attempts to turn it off, it refused. We (dad was up by this stage) disconnected the battery wire and the alarm fell back to battery backup, so we cut the siren cable.
Then i went back to sleep. This morning I checked the oil again and discovered that I had refilled it while it was still jacked up and it was in fact too high, so i drained some more out, and checked it again.
Reconnected the battery (from the previous night) and turned the car over, it wouldn't start. Flat battery it seemed...
Connected the battery to a portable generator we have and put some juice into it and then started the car. Disconnected the generator. A short time after starting the car, the cat light, the battery and brake warning lights all came on on the dash. Connecting a multimeter to the battery yeilded a 11.7 reading, much too low considering the engine was running. We checked the brake lights and the bulbs are fine.
With the generator hooked up (on), and engine running, the battery gauge goes up but the battery light stays on.
It seems like the alternator is not charging the battery amongst other things?
damaged ecu? needs a reset? how do i test/debug - im broke and all the autoelectricians i know of are closed and i dont really want to drive the car anywhere.

[Lloyd]

Probably a buggered alternator or regulator. Might pay to replace it (shouldn't be too expensive if you go second hand). As for the brake light, check the brake fluid is topped up to where it should be, that light starts coming on when its getting low. No idea why your cat light would be on from what you've explained. Might pay to take it to a mechanic and get them to check it out

[jondee86]

I had something similar happen with a Corona... alternator stopped charging while I was on a trip, and as the battery voltage dropped I had all sorts of warning lights up. Eventually the car just died.

Turns out the brushes were sticking in the alternator, and it needed a crack with the back of a crescent to get them seating again. Had to do that a couple of times before I got home... would only do about 100 km before the alternator would stop charging again.

Cheers.... jondee86

[10k 20v]

the warning lights comes on when the alternator stops charging
same as when the belt falls off

[Nuty|Mike]

yea i had the same thing at track day all lights flash up whn the alternator belt was hell loose and not charagein cheak no oil is driping on the blt some how if u wanna test ecus mine is fine maybe we can swap one day

cheers
mike