08-24-2018, 09:20 PM
that is the alternator light. (the signal from the alternator does all that, (from the internal regulator, ) it means this regulator sees a problem.
does this car have DRL (daylight running lights) option? as seen on most cars in CANADA by law up there.
DRL loves to short out , burns up (see connector turn brown on the module) and cause the alternator lamp to fail. the trick is unplug the DRL module to discover this (not at night !)
what is the engine RPM when the is on?, answer must be 800 RPM hot or higher engine cold < and is the engine hot, ? not told yet.
lets make the list.
1: engine RPM not stated, with lamp acting up.
2: fan belt loose to alternator.
3: battery cables loose, to starter? ( 2 cables = 4 ends)
3b: is the alternator 3 bolts all tight, three point are the critical ground. I've seen some super rusty (mean also corroded) and fails. the alternator had 4 connections.
4: the alternator has a plug on the rear, not loose, and 1 huge wire, this huge wire (6 gage) must not have damage.
5: the battery will read 13.3. to 15v running, of it goes below that and lamp goes on, then the alternator shuts down.
6: failing alternator.
7
in some cases a bad battery, if say 1 cell shorts and alternator regulator sees that fact and shuts itself off, to prevent battery blow up(rupturing). and turns on the Lamp)\
also it will get worse,problems never self cure. they progress. so... testing now mean not stranded later.
The cause is the regulator, if it sees over or under voltages or current it will shut down. (or it is being lied to, that means bad wires/connections)
Use a voltmeter to see what is going on, any DMM meter works here,
if this was a modern car with dash voltmeter, you might see 12vd not 14v, running when ALT lamps(battery symbol) cluster warning light come on.
when you see that you instantly know the Alternator just shut down.
if you saw 10v driving, that means battery is bad, or you were late seeing the ALT lamp come on and the battery is near fully discharged.
also when the lamp comes on does the starter seem weak ever? (restarted)
batteries have short life, 5years is a good average.
and alternators are next but can last 2 time or more longer that is why I always suspect battery first, get it load tested.
http://www.fixkick.com/Charging/charging.html
does this car have DRL (daylight running lights) option? as seen on most cars in CANADA by law up there.
DRL loves to short out , burns up (see connector turn brown on the module) and cause the alternator lamp to fail. the trick is unplug the DRL module to discover this (not at night !)
what is the engine RPM when the is on?, answer must be 800 RPM hot or higher engine cold < and is the engine hot, ? not told yet.
lets make the list.
1: engine RPM not stated, with lamp acting up.
2: fan belt loose to alternator.
3: battery cables loose, to starter? ( 2 cables = 4 ends)
3b: is the alternator 3 bolts all tight, three point are the critical ground. I've seen some super rusty (mean also corroded) and fails. the alternator had 4 connections.
4: the alternator has a plug on the rear, not loose, and 1 huge wire, this huge wire (6 gage) must not have damage.
5: the battery will read 13.3. to 15v running, of it goes below that and lamp goes on, then the alternator shuts down.
6: failing alternator.
7
in some cases a bad battery, if say 1 cell shorts and alternator regulator sees that fact and shuts itself off, to prevent battery blow up(rupturing). and turns on the Lamp)\also it will get worse,problems never self cure. they progress. so... testing now mean not stranded later.
The cause is the regulator, if it sees over or under voltages or current it will shut down. (or it is being lied to, that means bad wires/connections)
Use a voltmeter to see what is going on, any DMM meter works here,
if this was a modern car with dash voltmeter, you might see 12vd not 14v, running when ALT lamps(battery symbol) cluster warning light come on.
when you see that you instantly know the Alternator just shut down.
if you saw 10v driving, that means battery is bad, or you were late seeing the ALT lamp come on and the battery is near fully discharged.
also when the lamp comes on does the starter seem weak ever? (restarted)
batteries have short life, 5years is a good average.
and alternators are next but can last 2 time or more longer that is why I always suspect battery first, get it load tested.
http://www.fixkick.com/Charging/charging.html
(08-24-2018, 07:26 AM)Joe Tracker Wrote: My battery discharge light comes on intermittently. There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. It will turn on bright or dim on any given day and then not happen again for days/weeks. It never stays on for longer than 20 minutes of so. What action do you recommend?
Thanks,
Joe
1999 Chevy Tracker, 1.6 liter 16 valve
http://www.fixkick.com