Seeing the battery light come on in your car may seem like an annoyance at best or drive you crazy wondering what’s wrong. When this happens, it usually makes sense to take your vehicle to a mechanic to pinpoint the trouble. However, the battery light — sometimes called the charging light — coming on doesn’t always indicate a failing battery.
The charging system consists of the battery, alternator, wiring, and electric control unit (ECU). When these things are all working together, your battery remains charged, the lights turn on as they should, the radio works, and all other electrical components, such as GPS, have the energy to run.
However, if the charging light comes on, it shows that your vehicle is running on only battery power. If left unaddressed, the battery may not be able to recharge. Assuming the problem lies with the battery may lead you to purchase a new one unnecessarily, only to find that it won’t hold a charge.
The following factors can cause your battery or charging light to flash on:
The Battery
Yes, sometimes the battery really can be at fault. After all, it’s part of the charging system. A battery problem is most obvious when your vehicle simply won’t remain charged. If a battery seems to die right after a jump, that’s a definite indicator that your battery needs to be replaced.
The Drive Belt
The drive belt, also called a serpentine belt in vehicles made after 1990, can also go bad. This belt, or these belts in older automobiles, snakes through the various pulleys and accessories in your car or truck’s engine. Not only does your engine depend on the drive belt, but your air conditioning and steering also depend on it. One of the signs will be the battery light coming on when the belt fails. You may also hear squealing, and the engine could start overheating.
The Alternator
The alternator is a common cause for the battery or charging light coming on. Alternators use an alternating current to convert mechanical energy to electric energy, which is what allows your battery to recharge itself while in use. Unfortunately, alternators are more prone to wearing out than other parts of an automobile. When it begins to fail, an early symptom will be the battery light coming on. Your mechanic can check its voltage and determine if it needs to be replaced.
The Wiring
Wires can become corroded, and connections can become lost. Some wires, such as those connected to the battery, can be easily seen and cleaned by the owner. However, there are many wires in a vehicle and not all of them are easy to find. Many of them, especially the alternator’s wiring, are internal, too, making a mechanic handy when it comes to maintaining your vehicle’s wiring. Your mechanic can look for any burned connections and can clean corroded wires.
The Computer System
If all else fails, your mechanic will have to check the vehicle’s computer system. While this is one of the less likely causes for your battery or engine light coming on,it is possible. Especially in newer cars, which are more dependent on computers than cars of old, this can be a problem.
Should You Drive With the Battery Light On?
You should always be wary when this light is on; you don’t want to become stranded. A bad battery, faulty wiring, or failing alternator could stop working at any time and leave you with a dead vehicle. Have the matter looked into, especially before you risk a long drive.