Common Causes Behind the Illuminated Battery Light in Car While Driving Now all the modern cars are running on the road have a 12-volt rechargeable battery. The battery of the car is commonly responsible for providing the necessary energy for running various electrical components such as ECU, radio, ignition system, interior lights, headlights, and many more. If you notice the battery of the car is failed and then it unable to function properly. You can easily determine the dead battery or battery charging problem of the car by considering the illuminated battery light on the dashboard. Thus, the battery light helps you can fix the issues as soon as possible before the battery is drained completely. Numerous reasons are responsible for the battery light comes on while driving. Once you will figure out the causes behind the problem, you can either repair a certain component or replace the entire component. Here is a list of reasons that help you to diagnose the battery light problem while driving.
Broken alternator belt The alternator belt is generally connecting the crankshaft and alternator of the car. If the alternator belt is loose, then it unable to function properly as the way it is. As a result, you will notice that the battery unable to receive the charge needed for powering the electrical components of the car. Eventually, the battery light will be illuminated on the dashboard and need to replace the alternator belt for fixing the issues permanently.
Damaged alternator While driving the car, the alternator is responsible for keeping its battery fully charged. Generally, the alternator can be last about 5 to 7 years in your car which is commonly defining 80,000 to 120,000 miles. But in any circumstance, if the alternator is damaged, then ultimately it is unable to keep the battery charged. As a result, the battery light comes on and dead the alternator completely. If your car has a damaged alternator, then either replaces or rebuilt it.
Sloppy battery cable Like other components of the battery, the sloppy battery cable can also cause an incomplete charging connection. When the battery cable is not connected tightly, it will come on the battery light while driving. If your car hits the bump in the road or installing a new battery, then you will notice sloppy battery cable issues in the car. So, make sure that the battery cable terminal is seated down on the battery post. If the battery is corroded, then you need to clean the cable before tightening.
More accessories If the battery of your car has the necessary voltage with a rechargeable alternator, then all its accessories get the proper amount of energy to function while driving. When the charging system is not working properly, then all its electrical components such as power steering, heating, headlights, and air conditioning can drain the battery power at accelerated rates while driving. If the battery light turns on while driving the car, then turn off the A/C or other non-essential components to fix it.
Corroded battery terminals The crusty white-ash or powdery substances in the battery cable post indicate corroded battery terminals. If the battery terminal of the car is corroded, then you will experience difficulty to start the starter motor due to its slow turning. Moreover, the corroded terminal may interrupt the flow of electricity and disturb the alternator to perform its job. In this case, you will notice that the battery light stays on while starting the car.
Ineffectual battery If you are driving your car every day or live in a hot geographical region, then after 3 years you will recognize that the battery is faulty or dead completely. Especially, in the hot temperature, the battery is going to die faster and cause the battery light to come on at any time. Use a multimeter for testing the voltage of the ineffectual battery by connecting a negative lead to the negative battery terminal and positive lead to the positive battery terminal.
Conclusion All of the above-defined points indicate the main causes behind the illuminated battery light while driving the car. So, always take essential steps for protecting the battery from unusual failure and damages. If you experience any of these issues in the car, then take it to a reputed and certified mechanic for diagnosing the issues and fix it as soon as possible.