Red battery light on dashboard

[A4B6Cab]

2003, A4 3.0 petrol, battery light on dash. 2 questions:

1) can I still use it to commute? (5 miles each day)

2) what could it be, and best way to fault find please? It had a battery about 6 years ago I think

Help! Cheers guys

[jonathanfenton]

Alternator not charging. Put a meter on the battery when it’s running. If it’s not 13.2 or above it’s goosed.

[A4B6Cab]

Thanks Jonathan, will check it soon as I'm home.

If the alternator is goosed (I've read a few other forums it could be that), what's it like to get to and change on the 3.0 v6 petrol?

Also, I had the camebelt done last week, could it be linked to that, or not?

[jonathanfenton]

Did you get the auxiliary belt changed as well? I’d be tempted to ask them to check that they have done it correctly and the belts not slipping or nudged the earth off the alternator. Not sure on ease, can’t imagine it being too hard to change if need be. Like I say could just be a disturbed earth/slipping belt.

[A4B6Cab]

I dont think they done the aux belt as well. I just measured the battery voltage, switched off: 12.38v. Car running: 11.98v

Knackered battery maybe?

[jonathanfenton]

Nope that’s the alternator not charging. It’ll run till the battery goes flat. It’s not safe to drive as it will just cut out as it’s a petrol

[A4B6Cab]

Thanks again Jonathan. Just dropped it off for a new alternator. Been told there are 3 different types for this model. So they won’t know which one I need until it’s removed