Quote:
Originally Posted by JCL
I don't think the alternator is too small. If it was, then everybody would have a flat battery after starting the car a few times.
The problem is that it doesn't charge often enough and strongly enough, because of a computer program that tells it to disengage or operate with reduced parasitic load, so that the driver can get to 100 km/hr a fraction of a second quicker, or so that the vehicle gets better mileage on a test cycle.
It isn't a peak charge problem, it is an average charge problem.
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That depends on 1) how the battery was charged at first 2) how many electrical 'users' are switched on during driving 3) how long the drive is 4) the 'general' state of the battery. Because there are so many variables, the problem is how to pinpoint the exact cause.
If it is the computer telling the alternator not to charge the solution would be relatively easy; a software update (as is done with the switch to AGM-02 batteries). If it was an emission c.q. more power/better mileage, I would think that the engineers in Munich would have had a trick to get better grades when tested (as is often done....), but not let customers get flat batteries.....
By the way; the battery is supposed to get charged to only 80% because of the Efficient Dynamics, rest has to be done by braking. It could also be that exactly this is our problem.... As you said, not charged strongly enough. And as we all know, this will eventually lead to a substantial shortening of the battery lifespan....