Reasons for an Illuminated Check Charging System Light A car’s charging system is an essential component as you must know that without an operable battery and alternator, your car won’t go anywhere. If the Charging System light is flashing on the dash, there’s something wrong. The main reason for the light to come on is if the battery isn’t charging. If your system is experiencing problems while starting the car, you must inspect the check charging system or battery light come on, then something you don’t want to see, especially when you’re running late for work. Go through this article to learn more about charging system and the check charging system light. Made up of the alternator, battery, wiring and electronic control unit (ECU) and your car’s charging system keeps your battery charged. It also delivers the energy necessary to run the lights, radio and other electrical components while the engine is running.
Why is the light illuminated? Whenever this light goes on, it means that the car is running solely on battery power. If the problem continues and your charging system fails, the battery won’t be able to recharge and it will soon run down, leaving you with a dead battery. Nothing can ruin a day like a dead battery, so if this light comes on; it’s time to take your car to your trusted car service center to have them find the source of the problem.
Possible reasons that keep the check charging system light illuminated Unfortunately, there isn’t one answer as to why the check charging system light comes on. The good news is that your mechanic has the know-how to get to the bottom of the issue. The following are some parts that can cause the check charging system warning light to come on
Alternator The alternator can also be the main cause of the problem when you check charging system light comes on. There is need to test the voltage coming from your alternator. If the voltage is low, your mechanic will likely replace your weak alternator with a new one.
Battery The check charging system light could be coming on because your battery is low and needs replacing. Take your car to your mechanic and have them test your battery strength. If the battery is found to be not keeping charge, then change it for a new one.
Drive belt A failed drive belt prohibits the alternator from doing its job and can cause the warning light to come on. Have your mechanic check the condition of your car’s drive belt. It could be faulty and need to be replaced with a new one.
Wires and connections
It is required to clean all of the connections and make sure the battery clamps are clean and tight. Additionally, have they inspected all internal alternator wiring and connections and also have they checked all of the fusible links and look for any burned links. If they are burned, get them repaired or replaced.
Computer system When your car doesn’t have an alternator or battery issues, it could be a computer issue. Have your mechanic test your car’s computer system after all other issues have been tested and cleared.
A DIY charging system check Upon placing the key in the ignition and cycling between the off, run, and start positions, the charging system will administer a self-check. When you start the engine, the indicator light should remain on from 1-2 seconds and then automatically shut off. If the light turns off after the 2 seconds, that means the charging system is functioning properly. If the indicator light remains on, or turns off and on randomly while the car is running, there's a problem with the charging system. An alternative problem might exist if the charging light never came on at all during this simple test. It could mean the charging system and light needs repairs.
Remember Driving with your check charging system light illuminated could leave you stranded. If your car has a failing battery, faulty alternator or bad wiring, it could stop working at any time. So, it is advised to routinely check the charging system of your car to avoid inconvenience while driving on the road.