Battery light on handbrake light on
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
Joined
·
88 Posts
Experienced the same symptoms. Luckily, mine was just the battery. Odd that the handbrake light comes on with the brake light in a low voltage scenario. This seems to be designed - there's a diode linking the ground pathways of the charge and brake dash light. Not sure why though.
![]()
![]()
Joined
·
23 Posts
Hey guys so switched on the engine this morning on my 2008 1.0 Matiz and lucky me the brake warning light and the battery light both stay on when the car is running. So from looking online and from previous posts I take it that this is more than likely the alternator has packed up or is packing up. Had a brand new rac battery fitted probably a month ago any suggestions on thoughts or anyone know how costly this is going to be for me?
Phil, Firstly - Well done for using the search function and finding previous link(s) avoiding duplication.As for cost, I've looked up the alternator price which appears to be about £80 +/-
link:-https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Chevrolet-Matiz-Alternators-Parts/61513/bn_2680215
I've no idea on the mechanics time/cost.
link:-https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/Chevrolet-Matiz-Alternators-Parts/61513/bn_2680215
I've no idea on the mechanics time/cost.
Joined
·
23 Posts
Quick update guys! Took the matiz to a garage on Friday they said they couldn't find a mechanical fault so referred me to an auto spark which I'm booked in for on Tuesday lights appeared to disappear for a day now when I am below 1000 revs or stationary with the engine running the lights faintly flicker
Phil the problems you mention suggest a fault with the alternator regulator or the carbon brushes that contact the rotor slip rings. Either of these upsets will require attention to the alternator. In the meantime your could check for loose connections at the alternator and the battery. If you have a multimeter to hand this should be set to 20 volts on the direct current scale and connected across the battery terminals. With everything turned off your battery voltage should provide read nearly 12.6 volts. With the motor running at around 2000 rpm the reading on the meter should be around 14.5 volts.In passing the battery warning light and the brake warning light are designed to come on with an alternator fault. In the event that the battery warning lamp fails the brake warning lamp acts as a backup to alert the driver. Good Luck.
Joined
·
23 Posts
Just an update guys had the Matiz in the garage this morning garage have advised no fault with the alternator it seems when the rac have previously changed the battery and also when the previous garage had looked into the issue that it's the terminals haven't been connected back up properly!
Joined
·
23 Posts
BACK AGAIN 
was to good to be true alternator went bust the following day!
was to good to be true alternator went bust the following day!
Joined
·
2 Posts
hi,
this is an old thread but just had this on my partners Matiz. It only does it when parking up after a trip and turning off the lights. rev up ad it goes away again.
Was a relief to see the diode they bizarrely fitted so the more worrying brake light comes on at the same time.
thanks
Bill
this is an old thread but just had this on my partners Matiz. It only does it when parking up after a trip and turning off the lights. rev up ad it goes away again.
Was a relief to see the diode they bizarrely fitted so the more worrying brake light comes on at the same time.
thanks
Bill
Joined
·
118 Posts
So if I have understood this thread right, when the alternator starts to go bad - the car puts the brake warning light on ? My first reaction was why not put the indicators on and honk the horn as well - lolhi,
this is an old thread but just had this on my partners Matiz. It only does it when parking up after a trip and turning off the lights. rev up ad it goes away again.
Was a relief to see the diode they bizarrely fitted so the more worrying brake light comes on at the same time.
thanks
Bill
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
Join the discussion
