2k2ls
Well-Known LVC Member
ok check it out i start the car and after about 10 seconds i get the "beep" and the check charging system message comes up. I rev the motor and it goes away. what is this? :slam
battery light?????
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RG1620
LVC Member
good question.
My 2000 had the battery light come on once when in heavy traffic with all the accessories on. turned everythin off that I could and used lower gears to increas RPM, light went out. 1 week later... batt dead....I'm at Sears... they don't carry a battery that fits. (no venting I guess. needed for trunk mount) $80 at dealer.. low confidence level that it is just the batt. Just over 12 volts at batt with engine running. (would like to see 14 v.) Sounds like alt. I don't want to replace it if I don't have to. Problem is, now I've been driving around with the new batt, old alt for a month and no problems....yet. I have a spare batt in the trunk, just in case. If the alt were bad I would expect the batt to be drained by now. I use lights, defrost, AC, and heated seats every day for about 2 hours.
My 2000 had the battery light come on once when in heavy traffic with all the accessories on. turned everythin off that I could and used lower gears to increas RPM, light went out. 1 week later... batt dead....I'm at Sears... they don't carry a battery that fits. (no venting I guess. needed for trunk mount) $80 at dealer.. low confidence level that it is just the batt. Just over 12 volts at batt with engine running. (would like to see 14 v.) Sounds like alt. I don't want to replace it if I don't have to. Problem is, now I've been driving around with the new batt, old alt for a month and no problems....yet. I have a spare batt in the trunk, just in case. If the alt were bad I would expect the batt to be drained by now. I use lights, defrost, AC, and heated seats every day for about 2 hours.
Quik LS
Dedicated LVC Member
batteries do not last as long as you think....
Fordman
Well-Known LVC Member
I believe this chart. I lived in NJ for 36 LONG years. 4-5 years on a battery was about right. Now in Florida 3 years, and there dead.Quik LS said:
My 00 LS8 did the same thing for about a week before the alternator died. (Two weeks after I purchased the car. And it just happend to have a month old battery in it.)
The problem is a lack of voltage at low RPM's.
Next you'll just be driving down the road and random lights will tell you the car is falling apart. The engine, ABS, airbag, traction control and every other light will start going nuts because even though the engine will run at 9volts the rest of the car can't.
Get the alternator checked quick unless you like walking. :soapbox:
Just my two cents. :L
If you're not getting 14+ volts at the battery with the engine at idle the alternator is on the way out. Just a matter of time.
The problem is a lack of voltage at low RPM's.
Next you'll just be driving down the road and random lights will tell you the car is falling apart. The engine, ABS, airbag, traction control and every other light will start going nuts because even though the engine will run at 9volts the rest of the car can't.
Get the alternator checked quick unless you like walking. :soapbox:
Just my two cents. :L
If you're not getting 14+ volts at the battery with the engine at idle the alternator is on the way out. Just a matter of time.
Well one thing is for sure... they sure don't make batteries like they used to... Seems now if you kill a battery more than twice, it's toast. We got 6 years out of the batteries in our 86 F250 with the diesel. In the really cold weather, we killed it fairly often until we fixed the glow plugs. Now? Sheesh... About the most reliable one I've seen recently is an Interstate. They seem to be fairly hardy...
But, a dead alternator will take you out no matter what battery you have.
But, a dead alternator will take you out no matter what battery you have.