I have a 1997 Saturn Ls and for about a week the battery light has been on.Now the car doesnt start up.Both the battery and the alternator are 3-4 months old (NEW). What is the problem? AND HOW DO I FIX IT?
2007-01-03 01:40:17 · 10 answers · asked by mingblack 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The battery light means the alternator isn't putting out. First find out if there is a seperate voltage regulator. But it may be built into the alternator. Insure the drive belt is tight. Outside of that you probably have a bad alternator. AutoZone will test it for free.
2007-01-03 01:44:44 · answer #1 · answered by tumbleweed1954 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have a voltage meter?
How about a charge indicator in the dashboard, not the light but one with a needle that moves when the battery is being charged / discharged?
Then you can test it yourself by doing the following:
Run your car, and if you have a voltage meter, see what the volts are at across the battery. (~13.5 - 16.5 VDC)
Now, turn on everything, like your wipers, heat, radio, high beams, flashers, get everything running and now check the volts across the battery. Should be a drop of 1 to 3 volts, typically it is 2 - 2.5 VDC drop.
If there is a drop that is much more than that, your alternator is going bad or is bad. If there is not a drop or less than 1 volt, possibly the voltage regulator is going bad or is bad. Before we can determine this, need to do two more checks first.
Now turn everything off except the headlights, but keep the car running.
Now disconnect one connection from the battery, better to disconnect the ground so you do not accidentually short something out.
If the car stops running, then the alternator is not even working.
If it keeps running was there an increase in brightness of the headlights when you disconnected one of the battery cables?
If the headlight brightened a bit, the alternator is doing what it is supposed to do, if not then the alternator is going bad.
Now check the volts across the two cables that connect to the battery, but keeping the one from not being connected, you want a voltage reading of the alternator, NOT the battery this time.
The voltage should be higher than what was across the battery.
Now, with the car running and the one cable stil not connected to the battery (black one I hope), turn everything on again, radio, heat, high beams, etc... and does the car keep running? or does it stall out? or does the headlights dim?
Now check the voltage across the two battery cables again, there should be a slight drop in voltage... 1-2 volts normally than what you previously read.
Depending on the car, the idle will probally increase because of the voltage regulator needing more power nad the RPM of the motor increases by vacuum hoses, if the car's RPM does not increse, then it is possible there is a bad vacuum hose somewhere rather than a bad voltage regulator.
If the voltage drop is a lot or does not drop at all, if it is not because of the idling mentioned above, then the voltage regulator is bad.
2007-01-03 10:22:46 · answer #2 · answered by Dee_Smithers 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Advanced Auto will test both your battery and alternator for free. They'll let you know if one or the other is weak and needs replacing, if it's not one of those then something may be draining your battery. Do you have a car system, is anything hot wired off the battery, does anything stay on when you turn the car off- if so then you would need to address those things to fix your problem. Is there enough water in your battery- once again I would go to Advanced and have them test both things first. Good Luck
2007-01-03 09:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by paradiseintn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem on a Grand Prix - It was a wiring problem between the alternator and the battery. Also check your fuel pump - When it starts to go out, it can drain your battery because it's on non-stop. Start with your fuel pump first.
2007-01-03 09:46:30 · answer #4 · answered by latinadiabla_1976 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
9 of 10 times its a loose battery cable...other time a bad rebuilt alternator.
2007-01-03 09:48:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
faulty mechanic was my problem i had the same issue and i took it in and the problem was that they put in a used alternator when i paid for a new one! I'd take it in!...somewhere else!
2007-01-03 09:44:34 · answer #6 · answered by 1.2..3...Boo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would check the warranty on that alternator, it sounds like its defective.
2007-01-03 09:49:30 · answer #7 · answered by Firespider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
find out what is draining your batter when you shut the car off
2007-01-03 09:43:05 · answer #8 · answered by Lance 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you get the answer pls let me know also
2007-01-03 09:43:03 · answer #9 · answered by MOGAMAT C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have you checked to see that you have broken a fan belt that drives it
2007-01-03 09:46:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋