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I came back to my manual S4 today after a couple of months. It has been standing unused during that time.
I disconnect the battery when I leave it so I reconnected it and put it on charge overnight just to top it up.
I then started it (it started very easily) and drove it on to the lift to change the clutch fluid.
Having done that I took it for a drive and noticed the alternator light was on and voltage was showing as only 12v. This is something new for this car, normally the charging is fine and steady at 13.5v.
Part way through the drive the light went off and voltage came up to 13.5 before the same thing happened, the light came on and voltage fell back to 12v.
I wonder if I have:
1) Damaged the alternator diodes by charging with the battery connected. I always do this, though, and have not had a problem before.
Also, would the fact that it came back to life briefly suggest an intermittent fault like loose wire rather than fried components?.
2) Dislodged something while doing the clutch fluid. I checked the ground strap near the slave cylinder and that hasn't moved and is in good shape.
I have checked the wires from the alternator to the left fender and they havent changed - they are all tight.
Anything else I might have nudged,knocked or damaged?
I disconnect the battery when I leave it so I reconnected it and put it on charge overnight just to top it up.
I then started it (it started very easily) and drove it on to the lift to change the clutch fluid.
Having done that I took it for a drive and noticed the alternator light was on and voltage was showing as only 12v. This is something new for this car, normally the charging is fine and steady at 13.5v.
Part way through the drive the light went off and voltage came up to 13.5 before the same thing happened, the light came on and voltage fell back to 12v.
I wonder if I have:
1) Damaged the alternator diodes by charging with the battery connected. I always do this, though, and have not had a problem before.
Also, would the fact that it came back to life briefly suggest an intermittent fault like loose wire rather than fried components?.
2) Dislodged something while doing the clutch fluid. I checked the ground strap near the slave cylinder and that hasn't moved and is in good shape.
I have checked the wires from the alternator to the left fender and they havent changed - they are all tight.
Anything else I might have nudged,knocked or damaged?