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Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: Chase2008 on January 24, 2018, 05:25:59 PM

Title: Battery light on?
Post by: Chase2008 on January 24, 2018, 05:25:59 PM: Driving home from work my battery light came on. Pulled into the parts store and battery ( 2.5 years old) and alternator (original) tested. Both came back fine.

Went to go home and no battery light. Back on after a couple minutes. Went home and cleaned connections to battery and alternator.

2003 Jeep Liberty.

Can the alternator be goinge bad if it test ok? Something else? Thanks all
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: luckyman on January 24, 2018, 05:39:33 PM: My guess is the alternator and the light will come on more frequently the more you drive it.
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: bobcat on January 24, 2018, 06:26:04 PM: Just replace both.
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 24, 2018, 06:29:34 PM: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: bobcat on January 24, 2018, 06:53:13 PM: I'm serious. That's what I had to do with my truck a while back. The battery wasn't that old, but neither was the alternator, as I had replaced it a couple years prior. So I put a new battery in it. For a couple days it seemed to be better, then it started acting up again. So I put a new alternator in it and it's been perfect ever since. Oh, and I had the alternator and battery tested before replacing them and both were good, according to the tests.
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: birddogdad on January 25, 2018, 06:01:07 AM: Quote from: bobcat on January 24, 2018, 06:26:04 PM
Just replace both.

This and clean terminals and treat with dressing after connected...
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: Bullkllr on January 25, 2018, 07:17:06 AM: I'm no mechanic, but I have had issues with testing both alternators and starters at auto parts stores.
The symptoms indicate they are bad, I bring them in for a test and they test fine. I replace them anyway, and the vehicle operates the way it should.
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: papisjeep on January 25, 2018, 07:35:58 AM: pull them both and have them bench tested
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: baker5150 on January 25, 2018, 07:43:50 AM: I had the alternator on our forklift test fine at 2 different places, yet still had charging issues.
Replaced it and haven't had a problem since.
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: dyhardhuntr on January 25, 2018, 07:55:33 AM: Make sure to check all of your ground wires. From battery to engine block and from the block to the frame. Pull the battery and alternator and have them load tested to see how many amps the alternator is putting out and how many cold cranking amps from the battery. Battery should be tested at half of the cca listed on the case. An alternator can still put out 14v charging but little amps.

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Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: Macs B on January 25, 2018, 08:10:40 AM: Clean and coat all electrical wiring connections on alternator, battery and solenoid. If problem persists start throwing parts at it. :tup:
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: huntnphool on January 25, 2018, 09:08:49 AM: Do you have a multimeter?

If you do, keep it in the car and the next time the light turns on, pull over, leave the car running and check voltage both on your battery posts directly, and on the cable clamps directly. With the car running you should be around 14 volts on both.

If less than 13 volts on posts, and higher on cables, then it's likely a poor post/cable connection. If less than 13 on both then it's likely the alternator.

If less than 13 on both, check directly at the back of the alternator as well, it will likely have the same reading.
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: Zardoz on January 25, 2018, 09:46:34 AM: Quote from: birddogdad on January 25, 2018, 06:01:07 AM
Quote from: bobcat on January 24, 2018, 06:26:04 PM
Just replace both.

This and clean terminals and treat with dressing after connected...

:yeah: Beats standing on the side of the road..........
Title: Re: Battery light on?
Post by: Chase2008 on January 25, 2018, 04:21:17 PM: Thanks all. Went to a different parts store and they tested the alternator and was showing 12 when running so time for a new one. Had to go to work so off I go. 3 blocks from work start to lose power. Made it to work but wasnt going to make it home. Replaced the alternator in the parking lot at lunch. Had enough juice in the battery to start. So now I am good to go. Thanks for all the comments