Battery light on

[Beccy1982]

Hi all,
Central locking doesn't work, and radio and clock didn't keep memory. Checked and replaced blown F8 fuse under glovebox. Central locking then unlocked drivers door but locked all other doors and vice versa then stopped working again. Battery light on constantly and radio with no keys in ignition. Took fuse out to prevent battery going flat but have no idea how to fix this or where to start? :wall:

[Beccy1982]

Forgot to add: 51 plate 1.1 5dr desire. Not sure that matters though?!

[bender]

Bit of a strange fault this one beccy!
With the ignition key, it should move through 2 positions before starting the car, is this happening? Usually the first position is accessories, so radio on and heater etc, the battery light should come on at this stage, not before. Next the second position is obvs ignition, with all the warning lamps on ready to start. If your switching it off and the key moves through these positions allowing you to remove the key, and the battery light is still on, I'd start with the ignition barrel and switch.

I've not come across this before but I'm sure someone here can shed some more light....

[Beccy1982]

The key isn't even in the ignition - the radio and battery light only come on with the F8 fuse in. Key and places all work as they should in ignition.

[bender]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160331/724bdec5849b279f98b605903c4f03e7.jpg

I think this is the right fuse diagram for you car.

Without looking at wiring diagrams I can't say atm what's wrong, have you made any modifications to the car?

[stevo67]

My heaters don't come on until the car is started.

[Beccy1982]

No modifications. I have got an owner's manual so I knew which fuse was which, I just don't know why the battery light or radio is staying on or why the central locking stopped working. There's a constant current going haywire somewhere.

[bender]

Yeah it's hard to say what is causing the problem, I'm a qualified mechanic and if I had to start diagnosing it i would look at wiring diagrams and see where the radio gets its power feed from. I'll have a look at some diagrams tomorrow and try to help, if you need the car asap probably gonna have to be a garage job.

[Phaeton]

I would consider taking the leads off the alternator to see if it's feeding back through it, disconnect the battery before you do & do not let the big lead touch anything

[Beccy1982]

Thanks! Whoever had the car before me put a green bulb behind the instrument panel (it's naff) and when you turn the engine off with the lights on the instrument panel flickers for about 5 seconds. Think it's all connected so will get into it at the weekend.