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Battery light on


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charly
New User

Feb 4, 2010, 8:24 PM

Post #1 of 4 (1406 views)
Battery light on Sign In

I have a 2000 Ford Focus SE and yesterday the battery light came on. I took it to Sears Auto and they put it on the machine. Said the battery and alternator were both fine, the guy thought it might be the wires on the back of the alternator and told me to take it to the dealer. While driving home from Sears I noticed the heater was blowing hot air even though it was turned off! I turned it off and on a few times -- nothing happened, so I turned on the air conditioning for a few minutes and when I turned it off the battery light went off. Do you think the light could be on because the heater is malfunctioning? Maybe the thermostat?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Feb 4, 2010, 9:10 PM

Post #2 of 4 (1396 views)
Re: Battery light on Sign In

Guess and a check to do: Make sure belt is snug enough. It may be silently slipping and lack of proper outputs under certain conditions could make light come on. Running A/C may have warmed up the belt to grab again for a while??

Also check with neg battery post disconnected that wires to alternator are clean and snug. May be tough to get at,

T



charly
New User

Feb 4, 2010, 10:06 PM

Post #3 of 4 (1389 views)
Re: Battery light on Sign In

I appreciate the insight. It could be the belt slipping. When they were checking the battery at Sears, the belt seemed to be making a little noise. It's been snowing and cold here. (Maryland) Maybe you're right about the a/c warming it up. What was weird was the heater running even though it was turned off. Never had that happen before so I feel like there's a connection somewhere. Turning on the a/c was the only way I was able to get the heater to disengage -- almost like it was stuck in the on position. When I take it in to be checked I'll bring all this up to them and have them check everything you mentioned.
many thanks!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Feb 5, 2010, 8:06 AM

Post #4 of 4 (1372 views)
Re: Battery light on Sign In

I could be off on the wrong tangent but it's possible that low volts/amps provided thru a relay which is literally a physical contact of points not unlike an old ignition set of points got hot (strange but low power causes high heat in certain electrical items) and they could have stuck for a time.

Possibly, when A/C loaded on the belt it cause higher tension for the alternator?? It was a guess and should be at least ruled out.

Belt noise: Belts can be noisy for assorted reasons. Slipping, older, shined up pulleys and certain junk used for ice and snow on the roads! Does it here to my own cars (all prehistoricCrazy) here where the ice and snow are a norm - sand, salts etc. can dirty up things even underhood.

Belt may feel fine but be at the extreme of it's self adjusting range?

T







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