Battery problem on Peugeot 405?

Question

Hi - I was driving to a friends house today, running very low on fuel (but didn't run out). All of a sudden the battery warning light came on, albeit quite dim, when I was driving - the engine didn't cut out. Made it to the petrol station and refilled, restarted car and battery warning light refused to go out. 

Drove to my friends house and parked up - came out a few hours later and battery now completely flat and won't start. Any ideas what could have caused this, would the very low fuel level earlier have anything to do with it or is that pure coincidence?

david h · Accepted Answer

It will have nothing at all to do with the low fuel level.
The problem will be either the alternator is not working ,or the battery has gone.
Possible causes for the alternator not to work properly are
 the fan belt that runs the alternator may be slack and slipping or even broken and missing or the alternator earth strap is broken , ( a braided copper wire band that runs from the alternator to the engine earth )
A new earth strap will be about £6.00 and take 10 mins to fit yourself. An easy job requiring one spanner simply undo the fixing bolt on either side of the strap and replace with the new strap.
I think it will be the alternator earth strap !

Cost about £5.00 and 10 mins to fit yourself , a very very easy job to fix.
It may be the alternator itself and this can be tested using a multimeter.

Anonymous · Answer

Fuel level was a co-incidence. Has the car restarted from cold? If not the battery or alternator is suspect. Batteries are past their best at four years old. If it starts and runs ok it may just be a slipping auxiliary drive belt. This cold damp weather will help a slack belt to slip so check it out.

trv c · Answer

Check the fan belt first see if it broken or lose.

Trending News

Battery problem on Peugeot 405?

3 Answers