Battery indicator lit
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Lakewood Colorado
Battery indicator lit
Disconnected battery for work on front bumper. Car running fine. Reconnect after a few days and battery warning indicator on, car runs like crap. Can't get over 11.7 volts from voltage readout.
Battery fairly new (<6mos).
Did I lose alternator, or should I be looking somewhere else?
Any advice is appreciated.
Battery fairly new (<6mos).
Did I lose alternator, or should I be looking somewhere else?
Any advice is appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
When my GM cars did this,it was always the alternator.However,before throwing money at it,can you charge the battery up and see if it holds a charge?
Its not uncommon for new batteries to start going bad sometimes,even when you had it off for a few days.When I worked for a few Dealers,we had new cars on the lot with alot of bad batteries.If the charge wouldnt hold anymore,we would swap the battery out.
Also,Can you hear any noise from the alternator?Have you taken the belt off and see how it sounds/feels by spinning the pulley by hand?Those are things I do before swapping out alternators.Thats not always a sure fire way to check for problems with an alternator but a start at home.
Also,if you do change the alternator,be sure the battery is FULLY charged before starting the car back up.
Its not uncommon for new batteries to start going bad sometimes,even when you had it off for a few days.When I worked for a few Dealers,we had new cars on the lot with alot of bad batteries.If the charge wouldnt hold anymore,we would swap the battery out.
Also,Can you hear any noise from the alternator?Have you taken the belt off and see how it sounds/feels by spinning the pulley by hand?Those are things I do before swapping out alternators.Thats not always a sure fire way to check for problems with an alternator but a start at home.
Also,if you do change the alternator,be sure the battery is FULLY charged before starting the car back up.
