Battery light flickers

Tiny
WILLIAM.SNIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 SCION XB
  • 72,000 MILES
My car starts sometimes but then sometimes doesnt start. When driving in all gears my battery light flickers. I just installed a new alternator to fix the starting problem. The battery light problem just occoured with installation of the new alternator. I tested my batter and its fine. I also get a whining noise when I turn on the fan weather its heat or air its still whines. It also tries to stall more when the air is on or when the radio is turned up.
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 6:02 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
When it did not start, was the battery dead?
How did you test the battery?
Did you use a new or used alternator?
The flickering light is either a bad connection or a bad diode in the new alternator.
The whinning noise is bearings in the blower fan motor. No lube points, just replacement.
The stalling is a whole other issue. It may need a idle re learn from you having the battery disconnected or it may have other issues.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 7:47 PM
Tiny
WILLIAM.SNIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
About half the time it doesnt start so I would put it in gear and push a little and retry till it starts.
I used a volt meter and checked the correct amout of voltage a battery should be pushing and it was good.
Its a new alreanator 90 watt.
How would you do an idle re learn to see if thats the issue?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 8:26 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
What was the voltage? Did you mean 90 amps?

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 9:46 PM
Tiny
WILLIAM.SNIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Yea I went 90 amps and just checked the battery voltage again it's at 12.4 w/ car off
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 10:07 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
What is it running? 12.4 is low, fully charged is 12.6

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 10:12 PM
Tiny
WILLIAM.SNIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
While running it's 13.5
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 10:28 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Thats too low. Should be 14-14.5 volts. Is it new or used?

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 10:37 PM
Tiny
WILLIAM.SNIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
It's was supposedly new when I got the car and I got it 2 months ago, when I changed the alternator on Friday autozone and o'reilys checked it and said it was good and it had the same problem but I'll head there after work and let them do it again just to see if it's that
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 10:55 PM
Tiny
WILLIAM.SNIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Autozone just said it was fine so now I have no idea at all unless it's a ground somewhere cuz I've already ran the battery cables and made sure they were fine yesterday and my belts and pullys are clean so I have no ideas what it could be
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 11:03 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Go over all your connections.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 AT 11:49 PM
Tiny
WILLIAM.SNIDER
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
OK cables are all connected tight and it doesn't seem to be them cuz I can jingle them and everything is fine so I don't think any wires are bad cuz nothing happens so I'm gonna take the alternator off and take it back and swap out for another and see if it was just that one tomorrow
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011 AT 2:46 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good idea

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011 AT 4:00 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Battery Light Content

VIEW MORE