Brake light and battery light flashing after replacing HID’s, alternator and battery
A few weeks ago, I installed new HID's in my car. Several days after doing that, the brake light and battery light started flashing. So, I got my alternator and battery replaced. Then shortly after that, the brake light and battery light started flashing again. What else could this be from?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It sounds like it may just be happenstance that the HID light bulbs were replaced and then the other problems started. The battery light is set to come on when the vehicle detects the alternator output is below 12 volts. When the battery voltage drops too low, it can cause the ABS system to become disabled. A relay that is a bad or a faulty battery cable can also cause these symptoms. A qualified technician, like the ones at YourMechanic, will be able to diagnose your brake light and battery light issues and perform any repairs required.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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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.
Brake and battery lights together indicate you have a problem with your charging system.
The battery light will come on when the event that the battery is no longer being charged. The `E` brake (parking brake) light comes on when the fluid is low in the master cylinder or there is a pressure difference in the brake system. Have the alternator checked and see if the battery cables are tight.
A red light that flashes on and off could signal low/almost empty brake fluid, but also a serious issue with the brake`s hydraulic system. If the light comes on and stays on, you could end up with a potentially catastrophic (and costly) brake failure.
The answer is yes, a bad alternator can cause the brake light to come on. Here`s how: When your car`s engine is running, the alternator charges the battery and powers the electrical system. If the alternator fails, the battery will eventually run out of power and the electrical system will shut down.
Why you need to reset the computer: Your car`s computer—the ECU—reads data from your vehicle while it`s in operation, and a battery replacement disrupts this process. It needs a chance to clear error codes after a new battery is connected.
A battery test is easy to perform and can be done at home. First, open the hood and start the car. While the engine is running, remove the negative cable from the battery. If the vehicle stalls or dies, the alternator is likely bad.
The parking brake is currently engaged. If you are driving your vehicle and the Brake Warning light is accompanied by a beeping sound, it means that the parking brake is engaged. When the parking brake is disengaged, the light and beeping should stop.
Driving with your Battery Light on is not a good idea. If the battery is bad, the alternator is faulty, or the wiring is bad, these can cause the vehicle to lose power and not operate like it normally would.
Often times many dash lights will illuminate when the battery is dead, indicating that a particular system (in this case the braking system) does not have the proper voltage to it.
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.
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.
The red battery light could indicate a problem with the alternator, battery or other parts of the electrical and charging system in the car. It could be a minor problem such as a malfunction rectifier unit, blown fuse or cabling short circuit.
If you take your vehicle to an auto parts store they may give you a new battery for a few hundred dollars, without running any tests. Don`t make this mistake! A faulty alternator could ruin a perfectly healthy battery, which would put you further back from a solution than where you started.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Brake light and battery light flashing after replacing HID’s, alternator and battery
ANSWER : It sounds like it may just be happenstance that the HID light bulbs were replaced and then the other problems started. The battery light is set to come on when the vehicle detects the alternator output is below 12 volts. When the battery voltage drops too low, it can cause the ABS system to become disabled. A relay that is a bad or a faulty battery cable can also cause these symptoms. A qualified technician, like the ones at YourMechanic, will be able to diagnose your brake light and battery light issues and perform any repairs required.
EPC light on 2004 Jetta. Code said brake switch faulty, but brakes lights worked. Replaced brake switch, now no brake lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. The first thing that pops in my mind beyond of what you have listed is perhaps the electrical harness attached to the brake switch. Perhaps the harness itself is damaged or you have an exposed wire, loose ground wire somewhere. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a brake lights not working inspection to help you diagnose this issue.
Brake lights are not working. replaced brake light swtch still no brake lights. the third brake light the connection was melted at
ANSWER : The first thing to do is to repair third brake light and replace the brake light fuse and then see if the third brake lights work and the lower lights start working? If only the 3rd brake light starts working then you may need a further checks on the turn signal flasher or switch could be bad.
When I put my foot on the brake my back left brake light goes off, when I take it off the brake the brake light comes on
ANSWER : I would suggest trying to disconnect and reconnect the wiring to the rear lights. I have seen these older Toyota vehicles rear lighting short out on the lights themselves due to the way the light circuit was made on the lamp housing. Look at the housing circuit on the light to see if one is touching another, and that could tell you why it is malfunctioning. There could also be a problem with the brake light switch. If you are not comfortable dealing with wires, I recommend getting in touch with a certified mechanic who can look at your brake light issue for you to see what’s going on.
Battery light flashing at low rpm basically at idle my battery light flashes
ANSWER : Hi There,
You may have a failing voltage regulator that could be allowing the alternator to fluctuate too much resulting in the battery never maintaining a consistent charge as it is designed to. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. If the charging ability of the alternator is not maintained, this may cause a fluctuation in the power as you have described. 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. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
You may have a failing voltage regulator that could be allowing the alternator to fluctuate too much resulting in the battery never maintaining a consistent charge as it is designed to. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. If the charging ability of the alternator is not maintained, this may cause a fluctuation in the power as you have described. 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. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
I replaced the brake light switch. Gear lever unlocked because it had locked. Now the brakes feel hard.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. You need to check the brake switch install adjustment. You may have the switch adjusted too tight and it is holding the the brake pedal partly down. This will cause the brake master cylinder to not release the brakes when you let off the pedal. Readjust the switch away from the pedal until you feel some free play again in the pedal. This should fix the problem. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
in my car battery warning light appearing while driving.so I have replaced both battery and alternater still light is on
ANSWER : As you may yourself have seen, there are many reports of this fault with the Civic, that is a battery or alternator is replaced only to have the warning light fail to extinguish despite checking every conceivable electrical possibility. Your only recourse is to have a certified mechanic go through that exercise with your car and that involves first attempting to "re-set" the light. If the warning light returns, the alternator output has to be carefully measured both loaded and unloaded. All terminal connections have to be verified including all grounds. Fuses have to be checked for integrity (continuity) and the possibility of shorts, in for example dash wiring, has to be checked. To request this repair, simply request an electrical components diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will seek a resolution to this.
Car battery light is on replaced alternator battery and starter and battery light is still on.
ANSWER : You may have a failing voltage regulator that could be allowing the alternator to supply too much or too little amperage to the battery resulting in the battery never maintaining a consistent charge as it is designed to. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. 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. A common sign of this is usually the acid inside the battery boiling causing the battery to swell. You may also smell a bit of smoke due to things potentially getting too hot. 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. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
