car battery indicator light stays on plus

Car battery indicator light stays on plus how to#
Car battery indicator light stays on plus plus#

You can also look for signs that the belt is glazed on the sides. It’s especially important to replace any belt with cracks, splits or fraying before it fails. If there’s any sign of wear or damage to the belt, you want to replace it. Once the belt gets 50,000 miles on it, you should check it regularly. Plus, the pulley can start to wear against the belt, leaving behind visible damage if you look for it. Heat, abrasion, oil and the environment can all take a toll on the serpentine belt. Anything lower or higher than this indicates a problem with the alternator. In fact, a normal reading would be 13.5 to 14.5 volts. However, when the engine is running, the alternator should provide extra voltage, so that number should be higher. With the engine off, the battery should measure 12.6 volts. With your multimeter, you want to check the voltage of the battery while you keep the engine running. Measure Charging Voltage While Engine Running Once you have a place to look at the vehicle, follow these helpful tips. You don’t want to keep driving because the battery and/or alternator could fail at any time.

Car battery indicator light stays on plus how to#

How To Fix A Battery Light That’s On While DrivingĪt the first sign of the battery warning light, it’s best to pull the car off in a safe location to diagnose the system. It can also cause low voltage, problems starting the car and weird electrical system glitches. If the ground strap isn’t properly secured, you may notice flickering headlights, dashboard warning lights and there could be trouble charging the battery. It’s often referred to as the negative battery cable and it’s necessary to keep the electrical system running in the vehicle. The engine ground strap is the connection between the battery’s negative terminal and the car body. We will discuss how to handle this problem deeper in a few minutes. However, you don’t want to touch it because it’s highly caustic. You will notice it as the white or green-colored substance around the terminals and on the connectors. Corrosion is caused when the hydrogen gas collides with the air. If there’s corrosion built-up on the terminals, the voltage coming from the alternator won’t be able to juice up the battery. Sometimes a battery can’t be charged even though it’s in good condition. We recommend a regular inspection of the car battery to double-check that it’s in good working order, especially before winter, when the cold can take a toll on weak batteries. The average car battery lasts three to five years.

Car battery indicator light stays on plus plus#

Once the battery becomes too dead, the alternator can longer charge it, plus the light will come on. There’s always the chance that the problem is actually related to the car battery.

This issue will also cause the battery light to come on, letting you know that it’s not charging. What you will end up with is a dead car battery. If the wiring becomes damaged or worn, the signals will become interrupted, leaving the battery without the charge it needs to operate. The alternator provides power to the car battery, but it can’t do this without the appropriate wiring and connections that voltage travels through. Along with burning smells and unusual noises, you should also watch out for the typical signs of a dying car battery.

You may also see physical damage to the pulley if you perform an inspection. If the belt is getting caught or worn against the pulley, you will see some damage. The first sign that something is wrong with the pulley may be a damaged belt. If the pulley is damaged or failing, it can cause a lot of problems with the belt, which turns into issues with the alternator. The serpentine belt wraps around the alternator pulley as it weaves in and out of the various components. If it’s not resolved promptly, you will end up with a dead car battery.

The alternator typically lasts 100,000 to 150,000 miles, so this isn’t a problem that should be dealt with often.Ī dying alternator is going to give off several signs, including dimming headlights and malfunctioning electrical equipment. If the alternator is failing, the battery isn’t going to receive the power it needs. The alternator is responsible for charging the car battery while the engine is running. You may also see flickering or dimming lights and the engine could stall if the battery dies completely. This problem also leads to a squealing noise, especially when it’s cold outside. If the serpentine belt begins to fail or it starts slipping, you are going to notice trouble running the alternator. It will usually last 50,000 to 100,000 miles when it’s taken care of. The serpentine belt is responsible for running the alternator along with other accessories.