How to react if the battery indicator is on

The battery indicator or charging warning light on your car's dashboard indicates a faulty or poor battery charge. This indicator lights up whenever the charging system is not charging the battery with...

The battery indicator or charging warning light on your car's dashboard indicates a faulty or poor battery charge. This light comes on whenever the charging system is not charging the battery above approximately 13.5 volts. Since this warning can be caused by a number of things, it is important to take steps to make sure you know what the real problem is before replacing any parts. .

• Attention: This article describes a general test for the most common car battery charging systems, and some vehicles may be tested differently.

The troubleshooting process can be quite simple, but there are certain issues that should only be handled by a professional. If the problem seems complex or the troubleshooting process becomes difficult, call a mechanic to come and inspect.

Here's what you can do when your car's battery light comes on:

Part 1 of 3: Reacting to the battery indicator

When you turn on the car for the first time with the engine off, the battery indicator light will come on, and this is normal. If the battery indicator comes on while the engine is running and the vehicle is moving, this indicates a problem with the charging system.

Step 1: Turn off everything that is consuming power. If the battery indicator is on, there is still enough battery power to power the vehicle, but perhaps not for long.

When this happens, first turn off everything that uses battery power, except for headlights, if you are driving at night. This includes the air conditioning and heating system, the stereo system, any interior lighting and any accessories such as heated seats or heated mirrors. Also unplug all chargers for phones and accessories.

Step 2: Stop the car. If you notice that the engine temperature is rising or it is overheating, stop the car on the side of the road to prevent engine damage.

If you notice a loss in power steering, your vehicle may have broken the V-ribbed belt and the power steering or water pump and alternator may not be turning.

• Functions: Try to start the car in a safe place, if the battery light comes on again, do not drive. Shut off the engine and open the hood to see if there are any visual problems with the V-ribbed belt, alternator or battery.

• Functions: Always turn off the engine before inspecting the battery or other components.

Part 2 of 3: Inspect the battery, alternator, V-ribbed belt and fuses

Step 1: Locate the battery, fuse box and alternator.. Locate the battery, the fuse box behind the battery, and the alternator at the front of the engine.

In most cars, the battery is located under the hood. If the battery is not under the hood, then it is either in the trunk or under the rear seats.

• A warning: Always use safety goggles or goggles and gloves when working on or near a car battery. Observe all precautions when handling batteries.

Step 2: Check the battery. Look for corrosion on the battery terminals and any damage to the battery.

• A warning: If the battery is damaged or shows signs of leakage, it may need to be checked by a professional mechanic and replaced.

Step 3 Remove corrosion from battery terminals.. If there is a lot of corrosion on the terminals, use an old toothbrush to clean it and remove the corrosion.

You can also dip the brush in water to clean the battery.

• Functions: Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 cup of very hot water. Dip an old toothbrush in the mixture and clean the top of the battery and the terminals where the corrosion has accumulated.

Excessive corrosion at the battery terminals can cause a low voltage condition that causes the starter to spin slowly when trying to start the car, but it will not fire if the alternator is properly charged after starting the car.

Step 4: Attach the clamps to the battery terminals.. After cleaning the terminals, make sure that the clamps connecting the battery cables to the terminals are securely fastened.

• Functions: If the clamps are loose, use a wrench or pliers if available to tighten the bolt from the side.

Step 5: Inspect the battery cables. Inspect the battery cables that carry power from the battery to the vehicle.

If they are in poor condition, the car may not be getting enough power to start the car properly.

Step 6: Inspect the alternator belt and alternator for problems. The generator is located at the front of the engine and is driven by a belt.

On some vehicles, this belt is easy to spot. On others, it may be almost impossible without removing the engine covers or accessing them from underneath the vehicle.

• Functions: If the engine is installed horizontally, the belt will be on either the right or left side of the engine compartment.

Inspect the electrical connections on the generator to make sure they are secure and tight.

Step 7 Check the condition of the V-ribbed belt.. Make sure the serpentine belt is not missing or loose.

Look for any damage or wear on the belt. If the alternator belt is damaged, it must be replaced by a qualified mechanic.

• FunctionsA: If the belt is to blame, it is likely that there will be other symptoms, such as a squeal coming from the engine.

Step 8: Check the fuses.

The fuse box will be located either under the hood or in the passenger compartment.

If the fuse box is inside the vehicle, it will either be on the ceiling of the glove compartment or located on the left side of the dashboard near the floor on the driver's side.

• Functions: Some vehicles have fuse boxes inside the vehicle and under the hood. Check all fuses in both boxes for blown fuses.

Step 9: Replace any blown fuses. Some vehicles will have additional fuses in the fuse box for some of the smaller fuses.

If any of the large fuses are blown, there may be a serious short in the system and it should be checked and replaced by a certified mechanic.

Part 3 of 3: Battery Check

Step 1: start the engine. After all these steps have been taken, the engine must be restarted to ensure that the charging warning light is still on.

If the indicator goes out after starting the engine, check the charging system for other problems.

If none of the steps taken solve the problem, the problem is probably related to a malfunctioning alternator. This is something that should be checked and repaired by a professional. Call a certified mechanic, such as AvtoTachki, to inspect and repair the battery and alternator systems.