We’ve covered off what’s going on with all those lights on your dashboard in a little bit of depth before, but today we thought we’d get into the nitty-gritty.
Under each of those lights, there’s a tonne of information that you could potentially read into, and so we thought let’s start with the beating heart of your engine, the battery.
Your battery light will illuminate when there’s a major issue with your car battery’s charging system. If it comes on while you’re on the road, the best thing to do is get out of the traffic as soon as possible and switch off the vehicle.
If you choose to continue down the road, you might only be running off battery power – which isn’t infinite, in fact, quite the opposite – and stranded in the middle of the road, or worse, in the middle of an accident. Yikes!
If you can’t find somewhere to pull over, then make every effort to bring your battery usage right down. That means turning off electronic devices like the radio, headlights (if it’s daytime!), the air conditioning unit – as well as your phone charger, auxiliary devices and so forth. They all put added strain onto your battery and you’ll be losing power quicksmart.
The battery light can mean your alternator isn’t working
The most common reason your battery light switches-on is due to the alternator. Basically, your alternator isn’t giving the battery any charge – actually, it isn’t giving charge to any of its reliant systems.
This could be because the alternator’s regulator has failed, or the serpentine belt that powers the alternator has become loosened or totally detached.
Another reason for the battery light switching on is that the battery itself has failed and is not letting the alternator charge, a slight difference to the above because the issue is the battery, not the alternator.
Losing your power steering can also alert you to a battery issue, where the steering wheel becomes stiff – there’s no power being sent its way.
Similarly, keep an eye on your temperature gauge as another symptom of battery issues can be your vehicle overheating when the water pump is being driven off the same belt.
Most faults that cause the battery light to illuminate will necessitate the assistance of a professional to diagnose and fix, since there are numerous dangers associated with the charging and electrical systems that, if not addressed properly, can result in damage or possibly death.
Remember, My Auto Shop is always here to help you navigate any battery issues, or anything else. Head over to the service area to get started, and we’ll do the legwork so it’s easy for you to keep your car battery operating at its optimal level – so you don’t need to worry about the light coming on!