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Car Battery Questions and Answers This category contains featured questions as examples. They relate to most vehicles.
 Question:
1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager 3.3L mileage:
67,080. Approximately, 30 days ago I had my
local roadside service give me a jump due to
a "low battery". Since then, the "Rear
Wiper", "Intermittent Rear Wiper",
"Re-circulation", and the "A/C" buttons on
the environmental control panel all blink in
unison for approximately 16 -18 minutes
immediately after starting the engine. These
same 4 buttons also begin to blink when the
key is in the "On" position. All 4 buttons
function normally during this "blinking"
phase. My only observation during this time
has been the difficulty in "starting" the
engine first thing in the morning when the
engine is cold. The engine is slow to crank
but does eventually turn over. I have
checked the battery cells and they all seem
to have enough fluid. The battery is the
original Mopar battery and probably should
be replaced. But, I wouldn't think this has
anything to do with the blinking buttons.
Any ideas as to why the buttons blink and
then stop?
Answer:
First, load test your battery and replace if
necessary. Check all the fuses; if okay,
scan the body control module as it may have
been damaged when you had battery problems.

Question:
1993 Chevy Geo Prism 1.8 lt mileage: 82,000.
The battery charging light came on, so we
took it in to a shop and had the battery
changed. The light stayed on. We then took
it in to the dealer and they put in a
rebuilt alternator. That was three months
ago. Today, the battery light came on again,
and the power steering has become really
tight. Is it possible that some other part
of the electrical charging system may be the
problem? If so, what?
Answer:
First thing to check would be the drive
belt. Make sure that it is tensioned
properly and not slipping. Next, check the
alternator output.
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Question:
1998 Chevy Cavalier V6 mileage: 118,000.00.
Hello. I have a 1998 Chevy Cavalier
Whenever I apply the brakes, my headlights
and dash lights get dim. I have
recently noticed that when the brakes are
applied or the fan engages, everything goes
dim and the car acts as if it is going to
cut off. I would describe it like when
you are sitting in your house and you light
flicker on and off real quick in a
thunderstorm. Can you please help me
with this?
Answer:
From what you tell us, it sounds like you
may be having trouble with your charging
system. Have your battery load tested
and check the alternator output for voltage
and amperage. Also, check the various
ground wires throughout the car.
Question:
1997 Chevy Cavalier z24 3.1 v6 mileage:
120,000. While driving my car to work
(headlights, heater, radio on) I noticed the
battery gauge stays normal but whenever I
turn my rear defrost on and my car is idling
at a stop light, the battery gauge drops to
almost nothing. Before my car dies I
switch the rear defrost off and it returns
to normal. While driving with
the rear, defrost on the battery gauge rises
a little but still low. I needed a new
alternator about 6 months ago and replaced
it so I cannot have another bad one?
Alternatively, is it my battery? Or a
short? Anyway to test it or should I
take it in to be tested?
Answer:
From what you tell us, it sounds like you
may be having trouble with your charging
system. Have your battery load tested
and check the alternator output for voltage
and amperage.
Question:
1996 Mazda RX7 GTU 4 cyl mileage: 100,000.
My son replaced the battery cables and the
battery when the car wouldn't start; still
no good. Next he replaced the main
fuse and tried to start it--blew the fuse.
Have you any idea where in the wiring he
should look first (I don't know anything
about cars, you might guess). The
problem is also that I just replaced the
clutch and this car now seems Hopeless.
The dealer got my money and now is not
helpful. (You probably hear complaints
a lot--sorry) help, please.
Answer:
Check the ground straps from the
engine/transmission to the frame. One
may be loose or left off.
Question:
1996 Ford Explorer XLT v6 mileage: 85,000.
I have had trouble with my battery; it was a
very strong factory battery, never had any
problems until the other day, it does not
turn over unless jumped. The battery
is not dead - I can use the radio and the
automatic locking system and lights all
work. But, it won’t turn over unless
jumped. When the hood was up I noticed
rat poop all over the battery and scattered
around the engine. Still the truck started
and drove fine once jumped; there were no
noises or signs of trouble. I even
turned the car off and on a couple of times
and had no trouble. Have any idea what
could be going on, I have a suspicion it has
something to do with the rats.
Answer:
The rats probably will not hurt the battery
but can do damage to rubber hoses and
wiring. As to your no start problem,
have the battery load tested, it maybe “over
the hill.”
Question: 1 year ago, I
had the battery in my car replaced at Pep
Boys. After starting the car with the new
battery installed, I noticed the air bag
indicator light was flashing. This warning
light had never come on before. Recently at
my 90,000-mile maintenance check, I had the
dealer check the air bag system, and he told
me there was an open circuit in the air bag
control system, which would cost $900 to
repair. I haven't had this 'problem' fixed.
Forward to this week. I had my starter
replaced, and today when I picked it up and
drove off the lot, I noticed the maintenance
indicator light was on. Again, this light
had never come on before, and now after
having my starter replaced it does. My
owner's manual states that this light
indicates a potential emission control
problem. I took it back to the mechanic to
check into this, and he checked the
'coding', whatever that is. He determined it
was a hard code, and they couldn't reset it.
He suggests I take the car to the dealer to
check, which I'm sure will result in another
$1000 repair recommendation. It seems too
coincidental to me to suddenly have problems
with the air bag and emission control
systems, after having these unrelated
repairs performed. Do you have any ideas
related to what could be causing these
warning lights to come on, and how I can
have them reset without having needless and
expensive repair done? I would appreciate
any ideas. Thanks. James
Answer: The warning lights will
come on if the battery is disconnected and
reconnected. To "reset" the light, a special
scanner is required. An independent auto
service center can do this for you.
Question:
1997 Ford F-150 mileage: 66,000. I am on my
third battery in this truck. The voltmeter
seems to set at a different voltage from one
start up to another. Sometimes around 11
volts, sometimes up around 14. It doesn't
always fluctuate with engine speed, but
sometimes it will drop when at idle. I'm
wondering if I have a alternator problem or
a voltage regulator problem?
Answer:
You are right the voltage
regulator/alternator may be failing. But
first check the drive belt for the
alternator. Is it glazed and slipping? Is it
tightened properly? Also, check the ground
wires. Are they making a good connection?
Question:
A few days ago I went through water two feet
deep and my car died in the middle of the
road. I pushed it out of the water and after
20 minutes, I tried to jump-start it. After
several tries, the car started. Two days
later, the car stalled and the battery was
dead with battery indicator sign on. I
replaced the battery and the car started
fine but the battery indicator light is
still on. I am afraid that it will stop
again, what should I do?
Answer:
Have the charging system on your car checked. Your alternator may not be
charging the battery.

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/ Battery-2
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