Red warning light turning on

[joeyfinneran]

The red warning light turns on when the engine gets up to temperature.
I was thinking it's the thermostat coming off the radiator ?

The water heat is right and the oil level is right on the max line.

[minionly]

Your thermostat just can't come off Joey.

[molly the mini]

Is the red light not the charging light when it comes on check do you have 12 or 14 volts if only 12 then its the alternator not charging the battery

[joeyfinneran]

Your thermostat just can't come off Joey.

I know i was just describeing where is it

[joeyfinneran]

Is the red light not the charging light when it comes on check do you have 12 or 14 volts if only 12 then its the alternator not charging the battery

If so would the battery not be goin dead ?
As u say it, it comes on a night quicker with the lights on

[molly the mini]

If u have a volt meater get the light 2 come on then c how many volts you have

[joeyfinneran]

At battery or alterentor ?

[kerryminigringo]

Across the battery terminals.With nothing on and at a fast idle you should be getting 14vDC at the battery.It will drop with things switched on.Does it come on during normal daytime driving or is it just at night time with the lights on.

[joeyfinneran]

How do i do fast idle ?

Its bearly on during the day very hard to see it but at nights its very visable essbialy when the head lights are on!

[molly the mini]

Rev the engine

[joeyfinneran]

put the multi meter on the alternator and was get 13.82 volts
shouldn't it be around 14.25
new alternator solve the problem ?

[molly the mini]

If you are geting a new 1 you should get a 70amp one it will work better with the spot light

[joeyfinneran]

thats mpi/spi one ?
aint that not a totally different design ?

[molly the mini]

No u can get the same 1 just hire amp I think the standard 1 is 40 r 45 amp the 70 amp is better if you have spot lights

[joeyfinneran]

thanks for all the help

great help here as always

[GTM Coupe]

Anywhere between 13.8v and 14.1v at idle is fine, this doesn't sound like an alternator problem, it sounds more like a slipping fan belt, I would check the tension on this first before shelling out hard earned money on a new alternator. And yes if your alternator was not functioning properly your battery would definetley be going flat especially with spot lights on.

[Mark B]

Check the earth cable between the body and the engine, I thought that my alternator was gone but I just had a bad earth strap.

Mark

[joeyfinneran]

Ill Disconect it and give it a clean

[joeyfinneran]

Update on the red light

Right cleaned off the engine earth and cheacked the altenator again and its running at the right voltage
But i noticed today that when the light comes on the petrol gauge drops i dont know how i never noticed that before cause id be keeping an eye on that all the time
So iv put it down the to gauge sender unit in on the tank