Dashboard Battery Light Is On, And other things... Options

[twofoldjunk]

Hey 6gers,

So my dashboard battery light came on last night. Got my car home and am a little concerned. I've had a bunch of electrical issues over the last year or so and I'll outline what's happened so far:

Car cut out while driving about a year ago. Driving along, noticed my radio shut off, interior lights started dimming, then engine died. No electrical power to anything. Jumped it and limped home.

Replaced the alternator and battery. Drove it a bit, then it died again. Same thing, full electrical. I figured it was a loose connection. Had my mechanic silicone the wiring into place on the alternator. Ran fine for a while.

That was about a year ago.

Drove to work yesterday, noticed my dash light came on. I'm thinking it's just a loose connection. Made it back from work and am going to take a look right now.

Any ideas on what it could be? Bad alternator? Battery? (Both are about a year old, shouldn't be the issue?) Another issue?

It's an old 96 GT, 2.2.

Thanks,
Eddy

[diegohiga]

mine turned on when my alternator got bad.

[JasonTX]

mine turned on when my alternator got bad.

+1

but its not too hard to check w/ a multimeter

check voltage with car running and accessories off should be around 14.5 volts.

also the voltage of your battery is directly proportional to its state of charge

for example

12.6-12.72V= fully charged.
12.4V= 75% charged
12.25V=50% charged
12.00V= 25% charged


so if your alternator is outputing the correct voltage but if after you turn your car off you battery drops to say 12 volts you may have to start looking at your battery.



i dont know where you bought your battery but in the past i've had terrible luck with some cheaper brands. I've had one battery i got from walmart within a month it would not hold a charge then when i replaced it the 'new' one they gave me was bad. My own suspicion is they just put a jumpbox on those things when people bring them in and toss em back on the shelf without thought of measureing the current on a resistor

all that being said it may not be either of those things but at least you will be able to rule them out as likely causes

good luck and, please let us know how it goes