Mk2 Focus - many dash lights... :/

Drunkenmassacre · 7 Jul 2015 at 11:05

Hi guys,

Just after some pointers as to where I should look first. Basically my car started fine on Saturday night, about 10 minutes into the drive the red battery icon comes on. According to the book it's an ignition warning, but being closer to the destination than home that's where we went. With the light, a whining sound from the engine started too. Had a look when we'd stopped but nothing obvious had slipped and everything was running fine (to my untrained eye). No whine when parked up either.

On the way home, again about 10 minutes in, abs light comes on, battery indicator light and steering assist dies. Still has the whining and this time the lights dim.

With all of this being electrical my first thought is alternator or battery. I'm going to borrow a multimeter to check voltages, but reading around has brought up the speed sensors and maybe even the abs module. However, no one online seems to have had the same symptoms.

Anyone have any ideas as to where to go first?

Cheers

sovietspybob · 7 Jul 2015 at 11:09

Sounds like a knackered battery to me, i'd start there and the alternator before anything else

Hyburnate · 7 Jul 2015 at 11:16

Battery first and then alternator.

Find a local garage who will do a free battery test or do it yourself.

MatteH Oxford · 7 Jul 2015 at 12:51

Check the battery connections then the wiring connector and the loom from the back of the alternator for damage, corrosion etc first.

The abs light is probably due to low system voltage

Drunkenmassacre · 7 Jul 2015 at 13:51

Cheers for the quick replies guys- I'll take a look and see what comes of it

James07 · 7 Jul 2015 at 15:04

I had the same issue on my old focus, i changed the battery for it then to be the altenator.

Like above, get it checked, its a two second job checking either or.

*Rich* · 7 Jul 2015 at 15:52

I too had this problem a couple of years ago, turned out to be the alternator, which had burnt out inside.

Dr Who · 7 Jul 2015 at 15:54

Sounds like alternator or alternator drive belt.

snapdragon69 · 7 Jul 2015 at 15:57

Of course it's not the battery. The engine is running and there is a whining sound. It is the alternator that has stopped charging or it's belt.

Liquidfox · 7 Jul 2015 at 23:09

snapdragon69 said:
Of course it's not the battery. The engine is running and there is a whining sound. It is the alternator that has stopped charging or it's belt.

This. The battery light is a sign of a faulty battery charging system, not a faulty battery

Bromhead · 8 Jul 2015 at 01:45

I'd go with alternator as well, especially the whining sound

jono_astra · 8 Jul 2015 at 20:35

Drunkenmassacre · 1 Aug 2015 at 10:07

Cheers for the help btw guys- replacement alternator fitted and all is good.