Battery Light, Comes on.. Options

[cibrit-]

Hi guys,

Well, my problem is that "sometimes" not all the time, but usually most of the time, my batter light turns on whenever the car is running. It takes a few minutes or so for it to come on whenever it does turn on.

So, my question is: What are the things that could cause this to happen? Also, what could I check myself? Being that I am not to familiar with the electrical components.

Thank a bunch,

-Toni

[Cutrara]

Your alternator is on its way out most likely. If this is the case, once the light comes on your car will pull power from the battery to continue running. Once the battery is dead, the car wont run anymore. Although if you are able to drive long distances with the light on, this may not be your problem. Go to your local advance auto/auto zone and ask for a load test. It tests all the components in the charging system.

[Spider77]

I had this problem not to long ago. The light came on, I thought it was my alternator as well, but before I went and bought a new one I went to autozone and had them run their check on it. Alternator was fine, battery was on its way out. Two days later it took a dump on me. Replaced battery and havent had that problem since.

[cibrit-]

The thing is I bought a new alternator and a new battery when I was having a different electrical problem. I still had the problem and so I took it to an electrician and he used a wire to connect one of the fuses with one of the "generator things?" in the fuse box and it fixed my previous electric problem.

I'll take it to autozone tomorrow so that they can do the load test and I'll get back to this.

Thanks guys,

-Toni

[hurley97]

The discharge light reads directly from the voltage regulator in the alternator. Sometimes if the battery is really bad the voltage regulator cannot charge the battery enough it'll make the light come on but usually its the alternator. There have been times where a brand new alternator (usually aftermarket) or one that charges fine does have a bad voltage regulator which will make the light come on.

If both battery and alternator test fine, I would find out exactly what wire your mechanic bypassed cause that might have something to do with it, especially if this all started right after he did that.

[cibrit-]

Yeah, I'm going to drop by his little shop tomorrow and ask him to fix it. I did get a load test on the battery today, and he said it was a little low, but the battery is good.

Here's a picture of what the wire bypasses: It connects with the black cover one, and goes to the "ALT-S" which is supposed to be a 7.5 fuse, but is a 10 now.




Thanks again for helping,

-Toni

[trdproven]

Its either alternator or battery.

[Spider77]

Why would you run wire between the engine main relay and the alt fuse?

[ILuvMyCelica95]

This just recently happened in my 4Runner (my batter light coming on). Turned out to be the belt. Replaced it and haven't had a problem

[cibrit-]

This just recently happened in my 4Runner (my batter light coming on). Turned out to be the belt. Replaced it and haven't had a problem

The belt?? That's nuts, I'll try adjusting my belt. You know exactly why the belt caused it? Was it to tight or to loose or something?

Why would you run wire between the engine main relay and the alt fuse?

I'm not to sure why, but it did stop the "massive" drain that I was having earlier when the car was just sitting off.

[ILuvMyCelica95]

It was old, warn, loose, a little frayed too...basically it needed to be replaced. I knew it was going bad because it was squealing. (very annoying sound btw) If the belt is slipping its not charging the alternator. I had my alternator tested and it was fine, battery was also fine.

[hurley97]

It's probably something to do with the 10a fuse going to the alternator where there should be a 7.5a. It could be causing a problem inside the voltage regulator in the alternator.

Whoever put in that jumper wire needs to actually figure out where the problem is in the wiring between the eng main relay and the alt fuse instead of just bypassing the problem. Trying to hide an issue like that always creates more problems.