battery problems?

[zen]

So I was driving home from work today, the battery light came on, I turned off lights and radio (it was day), so the battery light went off.

I came home fine, whatever, then I had to go to school, turned the car on, battery light was on from the start, I tried turning off the lights and revving it, it didn't go away. I was able to make the quick trip, didn't seem like there's anything wrong with the car.

My question is, if alternator's not producing enough juice, is that going to turn on battery or check engine light?

It's a 95 318is auto.

[Shoot]

Its your alt.... replace it and charge your battery.

[zen]

No chance it could be a weak battery that can't hold full charge any longer?

[Blanco]

Bump for a similar question.

I just put a new alt in my mom's car and the battery light is on. I briefly put the battery on a charger and it was on the yellow light of red, yellow, green (fully charged). Battery, right?

[95325i]

No chance it could be a weak battery that can't hold full charge any longer?


I know when my battery died on my 328 I did not get any lights on the dash, the car just would not start if it was left over night. One other car that I have had when the Alt died the voltage/battery light came on then.

[Blanco]

My mom's battery was indeed a POS. A new battery with the new alt and it seems to be doing well.

[pimpin.dre]

also check your voltage regulator. they throw voltage all over the place. the battery light will come on if the voltage is below a certain level, not if the battery is struggling. To get your battery tested, go to a shop and get them to test it with a carbon pile load tester.

[heifetz17]

Even though there's a battery in the light, it's not a battery light. It's your charging light. When the battery starts to loose a charge or is going bad, the alternator is still throwing out 13-14 volts to the battery. When the alternator is going bad, however, it's voltage output drops, and trips the charging light.

To answer your question, the battery is most likely fine. Have your alternator tested, and if it tests bad, have it rebuilt.

[Blanco]

Even though there's a battery in the light, it's not a battery light. It's your charging light. When the battery starts to loose a charge or is going bad, the alternator is still throwing out 13-14 volts to the battery. When the alternator is going bad, however, it's voltage output drops, and trips the charging light.

To answer your question, the battery is most likely fine. Have your alternator tested, and if it tests bad, have it rebuilt.

And with a brand new alternator? The new battery made the light go out and the old battery wouldn't even take a charge. So I'm inclined to believe that it was the battery, in my case.