Fiesta Mk4 1.3 charging voltage..

peter212693 · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:14

Hi all,

My mum has got a X reg fiesta and the battery had gone flat so we are charging it up and its starting fine now. With the charger on the battery there is about 14v going into the battery.

On my focus with the car idle there is 14v through the battery which is normal. Now on the fiesta is under 13v... does this indicate the alternator is going bad or is it that the battery has been flat recently?

Thanks

Janesy B · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:19

The voltage is low because it's been left flat, it should improve, if not i'd suspect the battery over anything else.

ethos · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:21

I wouldn't even be charging the battery on 1.3, best thing to do would be to sell the car and buy a 1.25, they are a lot better mate.

All joking aside, keep an eye on it. If you fully charged the battery up there is no reason for it not to be reading 14v. It it's fairly flat (and you charged it just enough to get it started) then I would assume it'd put more strain on the alternator hence a lower voltage at the battery.

Try taking a reading from the alternator itself?

peter212693 · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:21

So it sounds like it needs a dam good charge?

I wouldnt know how to take a reading from the alternator, anyone shed any light on this?

ethos · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:22

peter212693 said:
So it sounds like it needs a dam good charge?

Generally overnight with a decent charger will do the trick...

How long did you charge it for?

peter212693 · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:26

ethos said:
Generally overnight with a decent charger will do the trick...

How long did you charge it for?

Had it on a fast charge for 2 hours and we just tried it to see if it starts and all was fine. Got it on trickle charge now since half 6.

Janesy B · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:28

You're real funny Ethos, really funny :rolleyes:

ethos · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:29

Nowhere near long enough, I'd leave it on trickle charge for the night personally... Just make sure you put it in a well ventilated area.

ethos · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:30

Janesy B said:
Your real funny Ethos, really funny

Thanks bro :cool:

Janesy B · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:34

No worries, next time someone proposes to spend a 1k tarting up a base level Fiesta I shall insist that they waste their money instead of simply getting a better model. But hey ho each to their own.

ethos · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:35

I'd recommend getting away from a fiesta all together personally (if a new car was a choice, it wasn't), but like you said- each to their own

peter212693 · 4 Jun 2009 at 20:43

Thanks for the info guys will see how it goes

TaKeN · 4 Jun 2009 at 20:48

Janesy B said:
No worries, next time someone proposes to spend a 1k tarting up a base level Fiesta I shall insist that they waste their money instead of simply getting a better model. But hey ho each to their own.

No offence mate, but your Fiesta sounds like a tractor.

BigglesPiP · 4 Jun 2009 at 21:27

If it's 13V while running, and it's not just been set to work on a really flat battery, then there is something up.

Janesy B · 4 Jun 2009 at 21:45

TaKeN said:
No offence mate, but your Fiesta sounds like a tractor.

Shush

you can experience the awesomeness of the cheesegrater of doom at the next RR

TaKeN · 4 Jun 2009 at 22:32

Janesy B said:
Shush you can experience the awesomeness of the cheesegrater of doom at the next RR

I need to properly meet everyone next time

, did you come down with Fox IIRC?

MikeHunt79 · 4 Jun 2009 at 22:52

If the battery has gone flat then it will have lost some capacity, it could even be dead.

Let it charge overnight with a smart charger and see how it is in the morning.

13v is fine, if it goes below 9v then it's definately dead.