94 Q "Low Battery Charge"

[rudefyet]

I just had an interesting issue crop up on my car, while driving the diagnostic lcd started to read "Low battery charge" and the emergency brake and abs lights came on, the rest of the way the gauge cluster went back and forth between OK and no idiot lights to low battery charge with the brake and abs indicators lit up.

I got to where I was headed shut off the car and it started back up fine, checked all the connections, did a simple test to see if stuff got brighter with the engine running to make sure the alternator was good, then tested the battery on my charger and have come to the conclusion there's not a single thing wrong with the battery or anything of that sort.

So, anyone have any ideas?

[qship96]

check voltages with car off and running.......

[Q451990]

Don't worry... it'll come back. I had an intermittent issue in the alternator on my first Q. Turned out to be a shorted stator that would come and go.

Heath

[rudefyet]

The indicator is staying on now, just measured and it's running 12.6v with the engine off and it goes down to 12.4v when running, so it looks like it is the alternator and it's finally gone kaput.

I didn't see anything on Q45.org on alternator replacement, so does anyone have any tips or guides they can share?

[Infinitiguy19]

Use someone with small hands and be extremely careful with the connectors that lead to the alternator.

[qship96]

replace the alternator before driving the car any more, or prepare to purchase a battery too.....not a bad idea to put battery on a charger and once alt. is replaced to have a battery load test performed, as weak alt. is known to destroy battery quickly.

[Infinitiguy19]

And weak batteries kill alternators as well.

[qship96]

Why I like the C-Tek smart chargers and Odyssey batteries!!!!!!!

[Q-ZILLA]

Check your cables while your at it. I used to see theat pop up on my Q often. Turned out to be corroded cables.

[VJ1]

I have the exact issue with my white 94. I just spent $700. on my other 94 replacing the alternator last week, so I'm not too keen on replacing this one. I'll try cleaning the connections and see if it helps. If not, there goes another $700.

[Q-ZILLA]

Damn, lost my alternator a week after last posting. reman Denso Alt + new Batt = sweating in garage.

[rudefyet]

So I got a new battery and I'm replacing the alt today, but I just have to ask, how do you get the cables off the back off it? I can't even pull it out enough to reach them, and I feel a couple zip ties that I think are holding them in place. I'd really like to avoid having to try and cut the zip ties blindly, so is there something I'm missing? I see the FSM said to remove the harness from the heat shroud, but I can't see any way to separate the two.

EDIT: It's one of the battery cables keeping it from coming out far enough, and that + everything else is zip tied to the plastic shroud behind the alternator. From what I gather I have 2 choices, use my shrink ray and crawl behind the alternator and cut the ties, or use my shrink ray so I can fit and disconnect the shroud, harness and cables from the back of the alternator.

[3Q Jay]

it's a challenge!
just be glad you don't have an active, that makes it even more interesting.....
you have pulled the a/c compressor off the block and wired it out of the way, right?
dropping the tensionrod and gusset can also help.

the zip ties can be released allowing them to slide off, and allowing a neat and professional reinstallation re-using the factory ties.

[Q-ZILLA]

Did you get it? Could you not pull it out from the top? I converted to an electric fan, so it's not a problem to get to it. 50-60 minutes out/in. Might check into removing the fan/shroud, if it's in the way, so you can get to it from the top. The connections are much easier to get to from the top.