What does it mean when car battery light comes on?

What does it mean when car battery light comes on?

battery charging problem
A dashboard battery light basically means there’s a battery charging problem. Your car isn’t getting enough voltage from the car battery to operate properly. It needs more “juice!”

What causes a battery light to come on in a Jeep Wrangler?

Jeep Wrangler Battery Light Causes 1 Battery. The battery is primarily there to start your Wrangler. 2 Alternator. A bad alternator will usually make itself known when the engine is already running. 3 Alternator Belt. Nearly all modern vehicles use a serpentine belt to turn the alternator. 4 Battery Post Corrosion. …

What does the battery light on the alternator mean?

This is the same connector that lets the on-board computer know if the alternator is charging or not, which is what the battery light actually means. You can use a volt meter to test what the battery is receiving by connecting it to the middle of the posts while the engine is running.

What’s the battery voltage on a Jeep Cherokee?

Touch the positive side of the voltmeter to the positive battery wire. With the engine off, you should get a reading somewhere between 12.0 volts and 12.6 volts. Now that you have a baseline, it’s time to turn the engine on.

What happens if you have a bad alternator in your car?

But if you have a bad alternator, then it won’t be able to keep the battery charged. This will cause the car battery light to illuminate once there is an inconsistency in the charge. Once the alternator completely dies, the power that is left in the battery will be exhausted in a matter of minutes.

Jeep Wrangler Battery Light Causes 1 Battery. The battery is primarily there to start your Wrangler. 2 Alternator. A bad alternator will usually make itself known when the engine is already running. 3 Alternator Belt. Nearly all modern vehicles use a serpentine belt to turn the alternator. 4 Battery Post Corrosion.

Why is the battery light still on after a new alternator?

So, now truck has new alternator and battery BUT battery light is still staying on. I had them check both and they said, new battery and alt showing good. I know all of the connections are tight and I checked the fuses inside the truck and all are good.

What should the alternator voltage be on a Jeep Patriot?

Not knowing for sure, but…most alternators today have an internal regulator built into the brush ass’y. So, if you get 12V (+/-) with engine shut off, then with a properly operating alternator, you should see around 14V–maybe as much as 14.8.

Touch the positive side of the voltmeter to the positive battery wire. With the engine off, you should get a reading somewhere between 12.0 volts and 12.6 volts. Now that you have a baseline, it’s time to turn the engine on.