is the ecm the problem if battery light is on and the alternator isn’t bad
battery light is on and the charging system doesn't keep battery charged, alternator replaced as well as battery and no change to problem, the wire from alternator to battery block in engine compartment burns out and any direct wire made from alternator to battery block burns up – do not know if wire was damaged before old alternator was replaced, the actual battery is in wheel well, being told the ecm is culprit, the engine light is not on only the battery light, was told the voltage regulation of system is in the ecm for this year of car
My car has 87000 miles.
My car has an automat
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
This is likely a sign of a failing voltage regulator. This is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. In your case, it sounds like the voltage output from the alternator may be much too high resulting in overcharging the battery and burning up wires in the process. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and properly test your vehicle’s charging system.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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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.
No, the alternator provides voltage to the battery and other components. The PCM could possibly discharge a battery if it leaves a relay or another circuit on, but most likely is is not the cause of your alternator failure.
If your alternator is failing, its voltage may drop below capacity, causing the battery warning light to appear on your dash. Similarly, the battery light will also appear if the alternator is exceeding its voltage limit, depending on how much stress it is under.
1. Dead Battery. One of the most common problems that indicates a charging system problem is a dead battery.
“If the [battery`s] voltage is low, replace with a new battery or charge the battery to the recommended 14.2 to 14.7 volts,” he says. “Then try to run the vehicle and see if the voltage after is outside of that range. If it is, that`s a sign of a bad alternator.”
A faulty battery can have an impact on all of your automobile`s electronic components, including the car computer. If a malfunctioning battery is unable to provide the necessary electrical energy to a computer, it could result in issues.
Because ECMs are electrical systems, they`re subject to short-circuits, power surges, and other failures that plague electronics. The most common source of ECM failure is in one of the wiring harnesses. If the wires to the transmission or fuel injectors become corroded, they can lose conductivity, leading to a failure.
Symptoms of a burnt out diode:
The engine will begin to run rough, lack power and eventually stall and not start again. The battery warning light will turn on, warning you that there is a problem with your alternator charging system. The headlights will become dim due to reduced battery voltage.
An early warning sign that your alternator is going bad could be dim, flickering lights. This symptom could show up on any or all of your dashboard lights, reading lights, headlights or other lights. The alternator is supposed to provide the electricity for your car`s lights.
Can You Jumpstart a Car With a Bad Alternator? It`s possible that your car will start even if your alternator is bad, but it will probably stall once the battery runs out of enough power to keep things running the way they should.
When the battery current sensor fails, the vehicle will not charge correctly, leading to a DTC or a dead battery. Common signs of failure include: Irregular charging rates. Low battery voltage.
Like desktop computers and most other electronics, disconnecting the battery cable for a short period will not fully reset your ECU due to the residual power remaining in the circuits.
The engine control module does what its name suggests: It controls the engine. If the ECM has died completely, you won`t be able to start your car. Your engine could cut while you`re driving, as well, if the ECU malfunctions. Once you`ve coasted to a stop, you won`t be able to get your automobile started again.
The battery life in Caterpillar ECMs is extremely long. I have seen one that was over 20 years old that still had life left in it. All of these batteries are should run at least 10 years.
Short answer: Yes! Buy a replacement ECM for your vehicle from our site and get it delivered to your door. It`ll be delivered with the latest and greatest software from your car`s manufacturer. It`s relatively easy to install!
The least invasive way to diagnose your ECM is to connect an onboard diagnostic (OBD or OBD II) tool to the diagnostic port. From there, you can scan to see if your engine computers have produced any error codes. There are many of these codes, and your diagnostic tool`s manual should have information on what they mean.
An engine control unit (ECU), also called an engine control module (ECM), is a device which controls multiple systems of an internal combustion engine in a single unit. Systems commonly controlled by an ECU include the fuel injection and ignition systems.
One of the most common problems you`re likely to experience with an alternator is a failure in the bearings. There are needle bearings in the alternator that allow the rotor to freely spin inside the housing, and those bearings can break down over time as a result of exposure to heat and dirt.
A corroded or defective alternator diode will faultily continue charging the circuit even when the car off. This, in turn, will drain your car battery and cause the car not to start.
#1 – Dead Battery
A battery that is drained or can`t hold a proper charge is one of the most widespread problems across all automobiles.
One of the most common reasons the battery light comes on and the car battery stops charging is because of corrosion. Whether the corrosion is on the battery cables or cable terminals, it is still a problem that needs to be addressed. Another common culprit for the battery not charging is a problem with the alternator.
Testing the Charging System
First, use your battery tester to check the open circuit voltage (OCV) and test the condition of the battery. If the battery is compromised, replace it with a battery that meets the specifications for the vehicle and proceed with your testing.
If this warning lamp lights up while the engine is running, it means that there is a problem in the charging system, usually that the battery has gone bad or the alternator has stopped working. Sometimes if your car or truck won`t start, you have a bad battery, one that can`t hold a charge.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
is the ecm the problem if battery light is on and the alternator isn’t bad
ANSWER : This is likely a sign of a failing voltage regulator. This is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. In your case, it sounds like the voltage output from the alternator may be much too high resulting in overcharging the battery and burning up wires in the process. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and properly test your vehicle’s charging system.
The Battery Light is on and the lights and power mirrors are not working – 2002 Mercedes-Benz C320
ANSWER : Hi. If the Battery Light is on, this an indication that either the battery is bad, the alternator is not charging properly, or both of them are bad. Low battery voltage will cause the car to do abnormal things like have no headlights. There are other things that can cause headlights to not work as well, for example, a blown fuse, broken headlight relay, or, the most common cause, blown headlight bulbs.
I suggest you have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to determine why the Battery Light is on and suggest the necessary repairs.
I have Chrysler 300c. Battery light came on, changed battery and alternator but power still getting drained and battery light still comes on.
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. This may be a sign of a failing starter relay. The starter relay is a small unit near the starter that directs power to the starter from the battery. When this fails, it may cause a clicking sound and will not allow the starter to engage the flywheel when you turn the key. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose your starting issue to determine the solution to get you back on the road.
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.
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 on… New battery and alternator but keeps dying
ANSWER : Hello. If your charge indicator is on, this indicates a problem in the system. The charge indicator will have a resistor that is about 390 ohms when tested and if it is bad then may cause light to come on. You are having a possible charge problem with alternator. A junk yard alternator may be bad and you would not know it until it is installed. You should have the complete charging system diagnosed by a qualified mechanic that will be able to go over the entire circuit.
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.
Battery light stays on and overnight battery drain. 2006 Land Rover LR3
ANSWER : Hi there – yes, something is going on here that’s draining your battery. Perhaps the pressure of the engine wash dislodged wiring which has shorted, or there was a chemical reaction to the cleaning solution that caused electrical damage in the alternator or voltage regulator. These componnents can be checked off of the vehicle. Vehicle wiring can be diagnosed by connecting an ammeter to the positive (red) battery cable, observe the current drain (likely less than 1 amp), then, one at a time, remove each fuse, check to see if the current drain has dropped to near 0, then reinsert the fuse. This process should identify the faulty circuit in most cases. The specific components on that circuit can then be checked for current drain problems. A professional mechanic, like YourMechanic, can come to your location, and perform this procedure for you, and replace/repair the failing component.
