- Why AutoTechIQ
- Fixes
- Shops Near You
- Vehicle Symptoms
- What Are Common Car Failure Searches?
- What Do My Dashboard Warning Lights Mean?
- Why Does My Car Drive Weird?
- Why Does My Car Make Noises?
- Why Does my Car smell?
- Symptoms Without Summary
- Car Leaking Coolant
- AC Isn't Cooling
- AC Blowing Hot Air
- Shaking While Driving
- Overheating AC
- AC Smells Like Vinegar
- Heater Not Working
- Windshield Wipers Don't Work
- Car Leaking Water
- Car Leaking Red Fluid
- Car Battery Leaking
- AC Only Work Sometimes
- Shaking While Idle
- Shaking At High Speeds
- Evap System Leak
- Shaking While Braking At High Speeds
- Shaking When Stopped
- Shaking When Accelerating
- Radiator Leaking
- Pink Fluid Leaking
- Car Leaking Oil
- AC Not Working.
- Car Leaking Gas
- Power Steering Fluid Leak
- Bad Brake Caliper
Hey, Why Is My Car's Battery Warning Light On?
If you are short on time and want to fast-track the process to professional help, click Yes
Does Your Car's Dashboard Show The Battery Light On?
The battery light is probably warning you the battery is weak, meaning its voltage is lower than it should be. Alternatively, it can be related to issues on the alternator, drive belt, or internal wiring. Commonly, it can also mean that the battery terminals are corroded.
The battery warning light on your car's dashboard is an important indicator of potential issues within your vehicle's electrical system. It is essential to address any warning signals as soon as possible to avoid further damage.
Addressing potential issues with your car's electrical system, be it battery faulty wiring or broken electrical components is crucial. Take the time to review your car's symptoms and consult with a technician for a proper diagnosis.
Even if the issue is nothing more than loose battery cables, you'll do better by having your car inspected. In this article, we focus on helping you understand your car's needs and ensure they are met.
Let's Get To The Bottom Of It!
- The drive belt powers all of your car's accessories, like the water pump, power steering pump, A/...read more
The drive belt powers all of your car's accessories, like the water pump, power steering pump, A/C compressor, and alternator. If the drive belt breaks, these accessories won't operate as usual, and you might lose their functions.
If you notice dimming lights, a squealing or grinding noise, radio issues, air condition inefficiency, no lights on the dashboard, or issues starting the vehicle, save this information; they're essential if you go to an auto shop later.
- Your battery powers your car's ignition, computer, lights, radio, and climate control. The altern...read more
Your battery powers your car's ignition, computer, lights, radio, and climate control. The alternator helps recharge the battery, and it can't keep up with the electricity needs of the car whenever any of its components wear out. This causes the battery warning light to pop on the dashboard.
If you notice dimming lights, disabled cruise control, radio issues, air condition inefficiency, or issues starting the vehicle, save this information; they're essential if you go to an auto shop later.
- The battery terminals connect the car's battery to all its electrical parts. If the terminals get...read more
The battery terminals connect the car's battery to all its electrical parts. If the terminals get corroded from acid, which is a common material in batteries, the connections can become loose, causing the battery warning light to flash on and off.
If you notice a check engine light on the dashboard, the radio clock resetting to 12:00, the vehicle shutting off unexpectedly, air condition inefficiency, or no lights on the dashboard, save this information; they're essential if you go to an auto shop later.
- The alternator drive belt connects the engine and the alternator to charge the battery. If the be...read more
The alternator drive belt connects the engine and the alternator to charge the battery. If the belt is loose, it can slip, making the alternator work harder. This can cause problems with other accessories like power steering, A/C, and the water pump and may lead to symptoms like hard steering, poor A/C performance, and overheating.
If you notice a check engine light on the dashboard, squealing noises, lights dimming, the vehicle harder to steer, or no lights on the dashboard, save this information; they're essential if you go to an auto shop later.
- A car battery has 6 cells that work together to power your vehicle. As the battery ages, these ce...read more
A car battery has 6 cells that work together to power your vehicle. As the battery ages, these cells start to degrade, resulting in decreased performance. During a battery test, the technician measures the battery's ability to produce a certain amount of amperage and voltage, comparing them to the battery's specifications. If the battery isn't producing enough power, it may cause the engine to crank more slowly when starting the car, and that's when the warning light may come on.
If you notice a check engine light on the dashboard, a battery warning, and dimming dash lights when starting the vehicle, save this information; they're essential if you go to an auto shop later.
- Your car's computer monitors all the electrical parts. If something is wrong, like a faulty wire ...read more
Your car's computer monitors all the electrical parts. If something is wrong, like a faulty wire in your car's electric charging system, the computer will turn on the check engine light and may display a message saying there's a problem with the charging system.
If you notice radio issues, disabled cruise control, dimming lights, weaker power windows' controls, A/C or heater malfunction, radio clock resetting to 12:00, or car shutting off unexpectedly, save this information; they're essential if you go to an auto shop later.
Find Professional Help
Please select your vehicle's brand and location so we can locate the best professional help for youVehicle Health Inspection Proof
Explore the following typical inspection results that show a potential cause for the symptom and select the one you believe is similar to your vehicle's issue.
Faulty alternator
Drive belt issues
Alternator drive belt issues
Worn battery cells
Broken circuit wire
Battery terminal issues
This image shows a car alternator. The left-side red arrow points to a belt. In some cases, the belt might slip, affecting the alternator's charging capacity.
A customer came to the auto shop concerned that the battery light on their dashboard had been coming on intermittently for about a week, mostly at idle. However, when they brought the vehicle in, the light was constantly active and only went off when the key was turned off.
The technician did an initial test of the car, noticing that it was slow to start and the battery light was on. Additionally, the dashboard lights began to dim, so they didn't perform a test drive.
During the vehicle health inspection, the technician found that the battery had enough load but needed more charge.
During the charging system test, the alternator output was 10 volts, indicating a failure; this can be an issue with the alternator or voltage regulator. The technician then got the customer's authorization to perform additional tests.
The additional testing showed that the alternator was broken and needed to be replaced. The mechanic replaced the alternator and retested the battery, which was now working properly. They returned the car to the customer, and it was running well.
1/6
This image shows a stuck idler pulley. This faulty pulley caused bad tensions, damaging the belt
A customer came to the auto shop because their car was hard to steer and the air conditioning wasn't working properly. Before this, they heard a grinding noise that turned into a squealing noise. Additionally, the temperature gauge was higher than normal; they also complained about the car battery light on the dash.
The mechanic took the car for a test drive and noticed the battery and "check engine" lights on the dashboard. The power steering also wasn't working, so the mechanic didn't proceed with the test drive for long.
During the vehicle health inspection, the mechanic found that the drive belt was completely out of place and showing burn signs. They also noticed that the idle pulley, which provides tension for the belt, was frozen and wouldn't turn.
Finally, the technician didn't see the need for additional testing. So, they replaced the belt and pulley, returning the now-working car to the customer.
2/6
This image shows a belt tensioner and belt groves. In this case, the belt is too shallow and needs assessment.
A customer came to the auto shop because their car's battery light flashed on the dashboard during acceleration or after a traffic stop. They also noticed that the air conditioning wasn't cold, there was a squealing noise when pulling off from a stop, and steering was hard when making turns at stoplights.
The mechanic verified the customer's complaint during a test drive and found that the belt was squealing when accelerating hard.
During the vehicle health inspection, the mechanic found that the serpentine belt's grooves were worn. Plus, the tension wasn't enough to hold the belt properly.
The technician did not need to do any additional testing and replaced the belt. The customer was not charged for any extra diagnostics.
3/6
This proof image shows a battery tester revealing a failing load test based on CCA(cold cranking amps).
The customer came to the auto shop because their car was struggling to start. However, once it did start, the car drove fine and had no issues.
The mechanic took the car for a test drive and noticed that when starting the engine, it cranked over slowly before starting.
During the vehicle health inspection, the mechanic performed a battery load test, discovering that the vehicle's battery failed due to worn-out cells. The car showed clear signs of electrical power issues. In this case, replacing the battery is necessary.
The technician did not need to do any additional testing, and the customer was not charged for any extra diagnostics.
4/6
This image shows a badly damaged connector at the back of the alternator. The red arrows point to corrosion and broken wires.
A customer came to the auto shop because both their car's battery and check engine light popped a couple of days ago. Now, the car was cranking over slower than usual, and its headlights were dimming.
The mechanic took the car for a test drive and confirmed that the car cranked slowly. Plus, both the check engine light and battery light flashed on the dashboard.
During the vehicle health inspection, the mechanic didn't find load issues with the battery but suggested recharging it. They didn't find further issues. The customer approved additional diagnostics.
Firstly, the technician used a specialized scanner to find a problem with the alternator's control circuit. Then, the technician checked the back of the alternator, finding faulty wires; they'll need to replace the wires.
5/6
This image shows a badly corroded battery terminal. It's causing bad current flow and needs proper assessment.
A customer came to the auto shop because their car's battery light was flashing and sometimes flickering. They also mentioned that their radio was acting strange, and the presets and clock were resetting randomly.
The mechanic verified the customer's complaint by performing a test drive and seeing that the battery light was flickering. Then, they performed a vehicle health inspection, revealing corrosion on the battery's terminals.
They tested the battery, receiving a warning about a loose connection. After cleaning and tightening the cables and terminals, the battery and charging system tested ok. The battery warning light now disappeared.
The mechanic did not need to do any additional testing, they only explained to the customer what happens when the battery leaks. If this issue developed, the customer might have ended up facing a dead battery; fortunately, they fixed the issue promptly. Finally, the customer was not charged for any extra diagnostics.
6/6Typical Fixes to Address the Cause(s)
The following chapters bases themselves on experiences from our auto repair shop; we'll describe related problems' causes and fixes.
The AutoTechIQ ranking for Safety, Cost Avoidance, and Environmental Impact is
Vehicle Symptoms
Below are just a few examples of typical Symptoms and Fixes your car might be experiencing
Other things your auto repair shop might talk about:
Battery light comes and goes. Car batteries. Voltage regulator damaged cells. Recharging system.