2001 Ford Escort Battery Warning Lamp

AEGISGAUGE

MEMBER
2001 FORD ESCORT
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
196,000 MILES

Hopefully this is an easy one. My car's battery light on the dash flickers when I drive around 50-70mph. I noticed that when the headlights are turned ON, the battery light will not flicker at all but when I turn them back OFF, it will flicker again between 50-70mph. Once I pressed the accelerator pedal a little hard while on a highway and the battery light went solid and I had to pull over and restart the car to make it go out. I tried leaving the car in Park and revving the engine and the battery light will still flicker at high rpms. What's going on?
Email me at: tntdrummer@yahoo. Com if you care to help. Thanks

4 Replies

BLUELIGHTNIN6

MECHANIC
16,542 POSTS

You will want to have the charging system tested. This includes the battery, battery cables and connectors, alternator and alternator drive belt. Your local auto part stores usually test batteries and alternators for free.

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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 AT 12:12 AM

AEGISGAUGE

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3 POSTS

So any idea of what's going on then? The Alternator was replaced with a refurbished about 3 years ago and the battery was just replaced a month ago.

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Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 AT 10:41 AM

BLUELIGHTNIN6

MECHANIC
16,542 POSTS

Seems like an alternator issue but it's possible that it's the drive belt and not the actual alternator itself

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Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 AT 6:23 PM

AEGISGAUGE

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3 POSTS

Yeah I agree. I figure the belt might be worn and slipping occasionally or the battery cables are defective or the brushes in the alternator acting up. It's just wierd that when the headlights are on, I can drive any speed without the battery light coming on.

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Thursday, November 4th, 2010 AT 8:32 AM