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Re: Battery warning light Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Thu, 14 Apr 2005 06:56:12 In Reply to: Battery warning light, sean, Wed, 13 Apr 2005 17:52:50 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
A few things to do-
First, find the thin wire going to the back of the alternator, usually green or yellow. That's the wire that goes to the light. Make sure the wire isn't shorting, and that it is indeed connected to the lug, and not accidentially connected to the alternator body. If all appears well, remove the wire from the alternator. Turn the key to ON (don't start the car) and with the wire off the alternator, the light should be OUT. If the light doesn't go out, there is a short to ground on that wire which needs to be fixed. The circuit from the bulb to the alternator is more than just a warning system; it is necessary for the alternator to work.
If the wire isn't shorted, the next question is if you have replaced that dash bulb. If so, did you use the exact one specified in the manual, or any one that would fit? The current rating of the bulb is critical to getting the alternator to work. If you touch the wire to ground with the key ON, the light should come on bright. If it isn't bright, there is a poor connection in there, and that could be keeping the alternator from working.
OK, if you've gotten this far, reconnect the wire to the alternator. Start the car. With a voltmeter, measure the voltage across the battery terminals. If all is well, it should be in the 13 volt range. If the alternator isn't charging, it will be below 12. Measure the voltage at the alternator - the big red bolt, and alternator case ground. It should be the same voltage as the battery. If not, check the ground of the alternator case to chassis, and all of the wires.
It is possible that you got a defective alternator. The Saab alternator has the VR built in, and when you get a new alternator, you get a new VR with it. However, alternators rarely fail. Voltage Regulators do, and they wear out, but they are easily replaced.
I would make sure that wiring from the bulb to the alternator is OK, using the tests above.
posted by 192.249....
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