When your car's battery light goes on and stays on it means....?

[undeterred]

Car is 6 years old and has original battery, serviced in October... Time for a new one?

[undeterred]

pleez

I know somebody knows this one.

[puerco-bellies]

1. Have your mechanic check your alternater.

That's the thingie that charges your battery.

[undeterred]

2. ok

but couldn't it just be the battery?

[puerco-bellies]

3. Yes it could be the battery.

Is it the sealed type or does it have removable caps? If it has the removable caps, take some off and see if the acid level is close to the top. Unless you live in a severe cold weather area a battery should last along time.

The reason I suggested to check the alternator is because in my experience that is the usual cause of my battery light indicator going off.

[undeterred]

6. removable caps

I will go check

[idgiehkt]

5. a parts store like Napa or Advance Auto can tell you if it's

the battery, the voltage regulator or the alternator. You REALLY need to check it because if it's the alternator it will drain the battery down and then your car will just die...no lights, no engine, nada, right in the middle of the road. And forget jump-starting it after that, it will have to be towed. It happened to me at night but luckily I just happened to have a cop behind me when it happened and he blue-lighted me and "pulled me over", lol, even though really I just barely made it off the road. If he hadn't been behind me someone could have run right over the top of me. You want to have the alternator replaced before that happens.

[NV Whino]

4. 6 years is a long time for a battery

You probably need a new one, but this sounds like the alternator.

[undeterred]

7. Yeah, battery is cheaper than alternator though.

So I hope its just battery. My service station is 1 block away, so I won't go anywhere till its checked.

[Kali]

8. it's probably the battery - go get a new one

if you are still having problems have car quest do an alternator check

I don't think I have ever had a battery that lasted 6 years - but I live in Arizona...

[Kali]

9. Don't forget to clean the clamps

In fact that just might be your problem - try taking the clamps off and cleaning them and the battery terminals real good with some damp baking soda - you can buy a nice little wire brush tool just for the job or use and old toothbrush - rinse well and reattach - I doubt this is the problem with a 6 year old battery - but if it hasn't been done in that entire time it might help.

[ElboRuum]

10. Check the alternator...

The battery light only comes on if the battery isn't being recharged. If the alternator pulley has thrown/snapped the belt, you only have to replace the belt. However, if the alternator threw the belt it could mean that the alternator is getting worn and resisting rotation, so it may need replacement.

If that's all fine, you might have a short bleeding power off the battery.

[ElboRuum]

11. Oh, another thing...

Even if the belt is fine, and something has happened internally to the alternator such that it isn't commutating even though the pulley is rotating (snapped an axle inside or other mechanical failure) the alternator won't generate power and cause the battery light to go on.

[PVnRT]

12. Check the alternator, but do at AutoZone for free

No need to pay a mechanic a couple of hundred dollars to tell you the same thing.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Your battery rotor fluid is low

Try adding some more fluid to the transport fram of the neutral terminal on your battery, unless you have a metric battery, in which case it goes into the second negative terminal input locutor.