| Written
by Darren Gow-Brown, the Virtual Mechanic. |
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Charging
System - Battery Light Coming On |
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THE
EFFECT
During
daylight it is minimal. Vehicles can still drive during the day
depending on the effect of the battery light and why the battery
light is coming on. The battery light might be coming on because
the fan belt is broken and you will see the temperature gauge
going up because the same belt might be driving two pulleys.
CHECK
Check the
pulleys, fan belts and the alternator to make sure it hasn't
seized. You also need a multimeter to check that the battery is
receiving charge. A battery light coming on and off requires a
check of the charge rate. The charge rate must be checked when the
battery comes on especially if you're about to do a night drive.
Any battery light, even during the day, may still cut the motor
out after a period of driving. Even during the day, the battery is
being consumed of power by the electronic ignition, the fuel pump,
the radio, the heaters, the air conditioning. All these things
require power and if the battery isn't receiving the charge from
the alternator then the battery will become so low that the
ignition system won't operate. The charge rate should be on the
battery poles between 13.8-14.2. Most batteries do not receive
this type of charge. They receive something like 13.5-14.2. If it
receives 13 volts at idle, this is a problem. If you raise the
idle and it is still 13, this is still a low charging alternator.
It will affect the battery and it needs to be rectified. The
problem is in the charging system.
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