My car's battery light came on and my car is struglling to go does anybody know what it could be?

Question

my car's battery light was coming on every once and a while, then all of a sudden it kept staying on and the car was acting real sluggish. the battery is fairly new and i was just wondering does anyone know what it could possibly be?

Answer 1

When your battery light comes on and your battery is good, check your alternator. When the alternator is bad, it will drain your battery really quick. In the end your car will not start. To be sure check with your local autoparts store, some do free alternators test.

Answer 2

Right, altenator is most probably the problem.

The suggestion to take to Autozone who will check it for free is a very good one. But first you have to get your car there.

Could also be the battery, or the altenator fuse

Did you perchance mess with the fuse box lately, check that the fuse marked for the altenator is inplace, and not open.
Probably not the battery, because if that is bad, it just wont start.

As you probably found out by now, your car will stop running in a few minutes, if it starts to run rough, you have about 5 minutes of run time left on the battery, then, you have to walk.

Find someone with a battery charger, and place it on charge for a few hours. Just jumping the car, even for an exteneded time, is not very good at charging your battery, a lot is lost in the transfer.
If you have to jump/charge the battery, keep your car off, and let the other car idle(dont rev it). Keep the jump cables in place for a long time( at least an hour, longer is better), because so much is lost in the transfer. But I advise to borrow a charger, and let it charge for several hours, or overnight. Then drive to Autozone, and let them diagnose the problem, probably altenator. Call ahead, and see if they can replace the altenator for you, they might not, but will sell you the part, check stock on the phone before you drive. Run time is very limited without an altenator. Keep you head lights off ( drive during the day), and bring the jumper cables and charger with you.

Most altenators are not too hard to change if you have the tools, usually 10mm metric socket. You will need to remove the serpentine belt, which is easy on some vehicles and tougher on others. Find a neighbor mechanic and a 6 pack of beer, should take about 30 minutes with the right tools.

When you jump the car, or charge the car, be sure to get the correct polarity of course. Car batterys can explode ! if there is a spark near the battery that is charging, or if you get the connection backwards.
Always: keep the charging vehicle off, Always connect the red positive lead to each battery + first. Then connect the jumper cable to the weak battery at the GND - connection, then the last connection is ALWAYS made on the good vehicle, but not at the battery post, connect it away from the battery on the motor chassis metal ( it is all ground). This will create a spark, but far away from the battery, and most importantly far away from the charging battery, where explosive Hydrogen is being produced.
Remove the cables in the reverse order, breaking the connection at the metal chassis connection first to avoid a spark near the charging battery.

The Tip by "BestWrencher", that you check the battery voltage is a good one ( if the car is still running at this point, doubtful).

Find someone with a decent voltmeter ( be sure it is on the volts scale, not Ohms, or Current)
Measure the battery voltage while the car is running.
If it is about 13.6 to 14V, the altenator is good.
If it is 12.6V or less, the altenator is bad.
If the car is no longer running, you cant use this test.


May the force be with you.

Answer 3

It sounds, of course, like you have a charging system problem... see, I am a master of the obvious....lol. No seriously, there is a quick check you can do to see if its the altenator or the battery (yes, a bad battery or one going bad can make the battery light come on too). The reason the car runs sluggish is the computer only requires .5 volts of electricity to allow the car to run (we call this reference voltage). The rest of the available voltage and amperage is used for things like spark control and fuel delivery. Low voltage equates to low spark and low fuel delivery., with the car running, disconnect the positive battery terminal. If the car dies, then the rectifier or diode in the altenator is probably bad. If at that point it doesn't, turn on the headlights... the car will stay running if the regulator in the altenator is good... if not... remove the altenator and take it to the local auto parts store... have them place it on thier test machine and verify it before you buy a new one.

Answer 4

Well, it could be the battery. Obvious answer, I know. Try jumping it, drive it for a while, and see if you have the same problem after you stop and try to start again.

When my starter went out, I think the battery light came on - I remember the battery being the first thing we replaced.

Answer 5

All possible answers so far, you can bet it is probably within your charging system. Average alternator should read at @14 amps, and lots of places can check it (auto zone, pep boys, etc.) Need to start by eliminating the basics: cable connections, possible dud battery, or alternator going bad.

Better not drive it anymore or you may wind up walking soon...good luck.

Answer 6

Alternator is not charging the battery.

Answer 7

take your car to a walmart they will test your battery and alternator for free

Answer 8

check the battery cable connections if the battery is good, also check the cables themselves for corrosion..

Answer 9

Altenator, if you have voltmeter, while running should read 13.5+ but if its running bad I imagine you have a reading below 12 volts

Answer 10

alternator...u can have it checked at auto zone for free