Battery/ airbag problems

[Belfast]

I have a 12-yr old Ford Fiesta. Recently I bought a new battery for it and it was going great. Last night, however, it was doing kangaroo jumps with the battery light coming on and off and also the airbag warning light coming on for some time. Today, it won't start at all as if the battery is flat. Can anyone help? What should I do?

[Buenchico]

The 'battery light' doesn't directly tell you anything about the battery. It shows that the battery isn't receiving a sufficient charge, so it's warning you that the alternator isn't working properly. That diagnosis seems to be confirmed by the fact that a good quality battery is now flat. (The airbag warning light was probably just a side effect of running on a low battery).

Fortunately, Fiesta alternators aren't wildly expensive and the labour involved in replacing one is negligible. (I had a Fiesta which broke down just a few yards from a spares shop. The AA guy sent me across the road to buy a new one and fitted it within a few minutes. I can't remember the cost but I know that it wasn't particularly expensive).

Chris

[Tisha33]

i had a similar problem for over a year and noone could fix it...they just kept changing spark plugs and the battery etc

in the end it seems the plugs were sparking off the whole engine instead of the battery!!!!

[paddiez]

With the battery light coming on and off plus the car jerking is either a short on your battery lead or a loose connection on battery or alternator