installed new alternator and battery the alternator is charging the battery and the battery is maintaining afull charge but the ba
battery light came on ,so I assumed it was the alternator or battery, both were original so I replaced both, I checked them both and the battery is now maintaining a full charge but the battery light wont go off
My car has 101000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. If the battery and the alternator are new and if it is verified that the alternator is charging then you have an issue with programming. When you replace the battery on this vehicle the computer needs to be reprogrammed to recognize it and to properly charge it. If this is not done then the computer will not turn on the alternator at the correct times an this battery light will come on. You need to have this programming done by a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, who can come to you to [program the battery into the computer] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-light-is-on-inspection
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
It is possible that the problems that you have been experiencing with the bad alternators have damaged the battery causing it to be weak. This would make the Battery Light come on. It is also possible that there is a problem with the fusible link or the alternator fuse for the charging system.
The alternator belt is the connection that interfaces the crankshaft and alternator together. If your car`s alternator belt isn`t working properly, your car battery won`t get the charge it needs for your vehicle`s electrical parts. With that, your car battery light will frequently be on to indicate such an issue.
You use Using a multimeter to measure the voltage of your BMW battery. The battery should have 12.6 volts or more when fully or appropriately charged.
An alternator cannot do everything a charger can. For starters, an alternator can charge a battery with a low charge, but it cannot charge a dead battery.
The batteries connectors can jostle loose sometimes or terminals might corrode. This will either cause the engine to shut down completely or the battery won`t fully transmit power. To solve this problem tighten your connectors. However, corrosion related problems require you to clean the battery regularly.
The problem could still be a defective alternator or improper installation. A fuse could also be the cause. If you still have power (headlights still work) the problem is in the fuel or ignition system. Your vehicle has a very complex ignition system and should only be serviced by trained professionals.
These systems are controlled by the vehicle Engine Control Unit (ECU). As the vehicle demands more load the ECU sends a signal to the alternator requesting it to start charging. The alternator has to cope with varying electrical loads and adjust its charge rate accordingly.
Basically, the light indicates a battery charging problem. If the light comes on and stays on while driving, this means that your alternator is running solely on energy stored in the battery. If you continue driving, your battery will eventually drain and your vehicle will stop working.
On average a alternator output is above 14v to account for all other electrical use i.e coil, lights etc. optimal range when engine is running is 13.7 – 14.7.. and its still ok above 12..
The message can reset by itself, but the car needs to sit undisturbed for at least eight hours. Perhaps with your work/driving schedule the car doesn`t sit long enough. Q: I have a headlight that is dim.
About four to eight hours at highway speeds is what it takes to actually charge a car battery. However, it will never reach 100 percent while you`re driving. If you look it up, you might see “Drive 30 minutes after you jump a car to recharge the battery.”
Here`s a rundown of some of the issues that might make a new alternator go bad, or stop working: Jumpstarting the car (or another car) incorrectly. The battery is failing, has been damaged, or has worn down physically. The alternator belt is installed too tightly.
The question is, can a faulty alternator destroy a new car battery? The answer is that a bad alternator, does not always affect the car battery, especially if the battery is new. However, there are chances that the faulty alternator can kill your new battery.
A blown fuse could be a cause of the battery light to come on. Excessive voltage in the electrical system can blow the fuse and prevent charging of the battery. A electrical technician can replace the fuse quickly and it an inexpensive fix.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
installed new alternator and battery the alternator is charging the battery and the battery is maintaining afull charge but the ba
ANSWER : Hello. If the battery and the alternator are new and if it is verified that the alternator is charging then you have an issue with programming. When you replace the battery on this vehicle the computer needs to be reprogrammed to recognize it and to properly charge it. If this is not done then the computer will not turn on the alternator at the correct times an this battery light will come on. You need to have this programming done by a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, who can come to you to [program the battery into the computer] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-light-is-on-inspection
I got a new battery new alternator put in but my battery just gets drained I keep having to buy new batterys
ANSWER : This may be a sign of a failing voltage regulator or potentially a bad grounding problem causing a draw on the system. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. Often times this will result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
Battery good, alternator good, brand new alternator cable, still not charging.
ANSWER : Hi There,
The first diagnosis of the bad voltage regulator is likely the cause of your charging system not properly charging the battery. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In some cases when a battery is too weak or damaged, it may no longer hold a charge for any length of time, in which case the alternator may be doing its job, but the battery is just simply too weak to hold a charge. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
The first diagnosis of the bad voltage regulator is likely the cause of your charging system not properly charging the battery. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In some cases when a battery is too weak or damaged, it may no longer hold a charge for any length of time, in which case the alternator may be doing its job, but the battery is just simply too weak to hold a charge. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
Has new alternator, new battery when started , motor dies when battery is disconnected…my mechanics are stumped on this
ANSWER : Hello.
If replacing those particular components did not correct the issue then the next thing I would look at is the vehicle’s voltage regulator. It appears that this engine’s electrical system is equipped with an external voltage regulator that functions, or malfunctions, independently of the alternator. The voltage regulator regulates power from the vehicle’s alternator, and can cause issues with the electrical system when it malfunctions. I would test it to see if it is functioning properly. It is a silver box that should be mounted somewhere in the engine bay, usually on a wheel well. A technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to replace your car’s voltage regulator if necessary.
Regards,
Eduardo
my battery kept draining until i bought a new alternator and battery. i have tightened the belt on the alternator but it still die
ANSWER : Hi there. The best way to diagnose why a battery would constantly drain is to review it’s job and how it is recharged. The battery is responsible for powering all electrical systems until the vehicle is started. At this point, the alternator takes over and also continually charges the battery while the vehicle is in use. A battery will drain when one of two things occurs. First, a battery will drain if it is constantly in use; supplying power to an electrical component even if the key is not in the ignition. Second, the battery will eventually die if the battery is not being charged frequently. However, since this is happening every two days, my initial thought would be that some electrical component on your 86 Olds is continuing to draw power from the battery. This is known as a parasitic drain. The best way to determine the source of this battery issue is to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a battery will not hold a charge inspection.
Just put a new carburetor, battery, starter relay, alternator, car stalls out while driving and battery dies when restarted
ANSWER : The battery should be load tested. Simply charging the battery or measuring voltage is not adequate. Measure charging output, too. You want to confirm that the ignition system, including for instance the ignition coil and ignition switch, are not intermittently cutting out. Coils can fail as temperature rises (resistance increases with temperature) so if you run the car for a while and all of a sudden it quits, measure the resistance of the coil windings to see if that provides a clue. Apart from that, the ENTIRE primary side ignition circuit has to be checked, using voltage drop testing (and testing of the hall effect sensor in the distributor), to rule the primary side in or out. If you want the required diagnostic steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a stalling diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
My service charging system battery light is on after replacing my alternator with a brand new one. It is not charging my battery.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Several things may be going on. The installation of the new alternator needs to be verified, focusing on the electrical connections and the drive belt. Make sure the connections are clean, dry, and tight. Make sure the drive belt is routed properly and is tight on the alternator pulley (as it is what powers the alternator). If the installation was fine, you will want to make sure the alternator was not faulty from the factory. It is not common, but these issues have been known to happen. Most automotive parts stores can test the alternator off of the vehicle. If you would like more help with testing, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Put a brand new alternator in it and new battery and it still does not want to charge the battery is this
ANSWER : Inspect fuse number 11 and 30 in the fuse box. Check the grey fuse link near the starter. If both of these are good then check fuse 19. In fact, its best to check all the fuses for any blown ones. Have the computers scanned to see if the computer has codes for the charging system. The alternator charging is controlled by the computer, and I have found that sometimes aftermarket alternators do not fix the problem. Some vehicles have more factory options for alternators than what the aftermarket offers. If the fuses do not help then you may have to replace the alternator with a dealer supplied one. On some of these vehicles they also had problems with the instrument cluster and connections to the cluster, which could be playing a part. If you cannot find the problem, then have a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come and check the system for you.
