I left my car's lights on two days ago and had to jump it from a kind passer-by. Since then, my battery light is on the dash, but only under 1000 rpm, if I rev up my engine the light turns off. This last day, the windows (electric) went up really slowly, but so far I haven't had any problems turning on my car.
I replaced my alternator about a year ago, so I'm thinking it might not be that, I'm thinking my battery has gone bad?
Any tips before I get it checked out?
2007-09-06 16:47:43 · 8 answers · asked by Takkuso 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I suspect it is the 'rectifier' on your alternator which is faulty and needs replacement. Have this checked first before carrying out other repairs or replacing your battery.
A sure sign of a faulty rectifier is for the battery charging light to remain on (very dim perhaps) and go off once you rev up the engine. In the meantime you would do well to have your battery charged also.
Changing your alternator one year ago is no criteria to judge it cannot be faulty.
2007-09-06 20:58:54 · answer #1 · answered by al_sheda 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It might be neither, when you run down your battery you have to recharge it using a trickle charge. This can be done by driving for over half an hour at over 40 miles per hour or by buying an adapter at the auto store and plug it into a wall socket, attach the leads to the right places in the instructions and leaving it overnight.
The advice above of replacing a battery that is over four years old is good. If it's over 4 years it doesn't owe you anything.
2007-09-06 16:59:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Replace the Cables and check all connections at the battery positive lead even the small wires if any. look for lose connections on the ground wire. some cars have a Chassis Ground wire or are grounded in more than one place.
Look for this before replacing anything and to find out rather the ALT is going out>>
Start the vehicle
then pull off the pos + lead
if the engine runs than is the Batt
if it stalls than its your ALT.
Good Luck.
2007-09-06 16:59:51 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the battery was already several years old you probably "killed" it when it was drained right down to nothing. It might never work right. Try measuring the voltage at the battery terminals (with the engine running) it should be about 14.5 volts if your alternator is trying to charge it. If it only reads 12.6 or lower its not getting charged. You could try borrowing a known, good battery from a friend, sticking it in your car temporarily and see if the problems suddenly dissappear.
2007-09-06 16:57:50 · answer #4 · answered by Flying Dragon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your battery is 4 or more years old, don't even bother having it tested at the auto store- just replace it with a new one and then have the charging system double checked where you buy the battery. If the battery is relatively new, have it load tested and the battery terminals cleaned by removing the battery cables.
2007-09-06 16:54:18 · answer #5 · answered by bobweb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if you're losing power while the car is running, it is your alternator.
the only responsibility your battery has is to supply power to the starter to crank the car (hence when you go buy a battery you'll see things listing how much cranking power it has.. the colder the weather, the higher the crank power has to be...etc). after that your battery is not in use and is being recharged by the alternator. if your battery light is coming on, your alternator is draining the power from your battery becase it's not creating enough of it's own.
2007-09-06 16:56:41 · answer #6 · answered by StangGirl 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Go to Autozone, they check both for free. The light coming on at low rpms may indicate a loose belt as well.
2007-09-06 16:54:42 · answer #7 · answered by ryankneale 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
bad altenator
2007-09-06 16:53:36 · answer #8 · answered by jenissa e 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋