Why does my car battery light come on while driving?
If your car’s battery light comes on while you’re driving, it’s likely because the computer detected a battery charging problem. Your car will still be able to drive, but it’s important that you remain calm and keep your eyes on the road until you’re able to stop somewhere to fix the problem.
Is it safe to drive with the battery light on?
The battery powers essential parts of your car, so it is a must have piece of equipment. If you are still unsure why you’re Battery Light is on, have a Battery Light inspection by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic. The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Battery Light is on Inspection.
When does the battery warning light come on?
If you see a warning light come on, you know that your car likely needs some kind of immediate attention, even if nothing appears to be malfunctioning fully yet. This light comes on when your alternator is not making electricity and the car is running off of battery power alone.
What does the check battery light on your dashboard mean?
Some Preliminary Checks. If you have some automotive maintenance experience and you aren’t too far from home, you might want to drive your car to your garage and run it through a charging system check. Usually, the check battery light indicates that you either need to replace your alternator belt or the alternator.
What to do when your battery light comes on while driving?
If the battery light comes on while the engine is running and the vehicle is being driven, this indicates a problem with the charging system. Step 1: Turn off everything that draws power.
What does a car battery warning light mean?
If the voltage created by the electrical charging system is too low, a battery warning light illuminates to indicate that the battery cannot be properly charged. Without a charging battery, the vehicle will not stay running for long.
Why does my car battery light come on every time I start the car?
Every time the vehicle starts up, the battery warning light should briefly turn on, then back off after a few seconds. This is a system test that indicates the battery light on the dash, along with any monitored components of the charging system, are working as expected.
What does the battery light on the dashboard mean?
(Dashboard Battery Indicator Explained) What Does the Battery Light Mean? It’s a pretty common horror scenario: you are driving along, minding your own business, when suddenly the battery light goes on in your car. It can be challenging to know whether it is safe to drive with the battery light on or not.
Is it normal for the battery light to come on then turn off?
Yes! It’s perfectly normal for your car’s battery light to come on then turn off after you start it. Thanks! What do I do if my car is saying it has a low battery? You may need to replace the battery or alternator.
What should voltage be for car battery light?
It’s relatively easy to check the function of the alternator with a multimeter. The voltage should be between 13.6 volts and 14.6 volts. If the voltage is less than 12 volts, the battery light is triggered and you’ll likely need to replace the alternator.
How long does a car battery last before it dies?
Once the battery light comes on, you have anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes of power left before the battery dies and the car stops working. If you were just making a quick run to the supermarket or are a few minutes away from work, you can probably make it.
May 25, 2016. The battery light or charging warning light, available on the dashboard of your car, indicates malfunctioning or poor charging of the battery. This light illuminates whenever the charging system does not charge the battery with a voltage above approximately 13.5 volts.
It’s relatively easy to check the function of the alternator with a multimeter. The voltage should be between 13.6 volts and 14.6 volts. If the voltage is less than 12 volts, the battery light is triggered and you’ll likely need to replace the alternator.
Is it bad to drive with the battery light on?
If it is dark, make sure to keep your headlights on for as long as possible, as driving with them off is dangerous. Understand that driving with the light on can cause issues with your battery in the long run, most notably the rapid discharging can cause your battery to also go bad, and not be able to be recharged.
What does it mean when your car battery light comes on?
The full answer is, “Probably not for too long.” The car’s battery light coming on generally means that there is something preventing your car’s electric system from the battery charged and thus, the car is running on battery power only.