OK I think we have found the problem

Lucky enough I know teh previous owner of the car - its my sisters boyfriend.

Turns out he had the eact problem!

He saw us working on the car and new we where going out to get a new altenator but didnt tell us this after we got back

Theres a connector behind the passenger side headlight (see pic below)



NOW when he got the car it was unplugged. He at some point in time connected it back up and guess what - battery light came on and the temp gauge goes right round!!!

We disconnected it and the battery light dont come on but the temp gauge still goes right round.

So we disconnect the temp sensor (pic below)



and the temp gauge does go round!

He then told us that all he did was replace the sensor and it solved the problem. temp gauge worked ok. no bat light and that random connector at the top stay'd unplugged.

My dad admits that when he put the bumper back on he connected that connector back up because it was unplugged

So I just spent 80 quid on a new altenator when this was the problem all along

So my guess is having this connector plugged in 1) causes a short so the bat light comes on and 2) totally cattle trucks the temp sender.

Question:

What is that connector for behind the headlight?

cheers guys

ST