Service charging system prompt came on. Battery ok

ANSWER : The indicator comes on the dash when the alternator is overcharging or undercharging. I recommend having the charging system tested to see if the alternator needs replaced. You may have a wiring or other electrical issue with the alternator circuit so this is why I recommended having the system diagnosed. If you need assistance, consider getting help from a qualified technician who cane diagnose your service light and repair your vehicle appropriately.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Several things may be going on. The installation of the new alternator needs to be verified, focusing on the electrical connections and the drive belt. Make sure the connections are clean, dry, and tight. Make sure the drive belt is routed properly and is tight on the alternator pulley (as it is what powers the alternator). If the installation was fine, you will want to make sure the alternator was not faulty from the factory. It is not common, but these issues have been known to happen. Most automotive parts stores can test the alternator off of the vehicle. If you would like more help with testing, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : Hi there:

If you’ve recently had major work done to your Chevrolet Equinox, it’s always a good idea to have the ECU reprogrammed or updated so it can monitor those changes; especially if any aftermarket parts were used. However, the service message is typically not fixed by reprogramming the ECU. In most cases, it’s best to start by having a professional mobile mechanic complete a service light is on inspection, which will allow them to download and remove any error codes stored in the ECU. The resetting of the ECU is typically done by a dealership for security reasons.

ANSWER : Hello. If the battery and the alternator are new and if it is verified that the alternator is charging then you have an issue with programming. When you replace the battery on this vehicle the computer needs to be reprogrammed to recognize it and to properly charge it. If this is not done then the computer will not turn on the alternator at the correct times an this battery light will come on. You need to have this programming done by a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, who can come to you to [program the battery into the computer] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-light-is-on-inspection

ANSWER : Hello There,
Depending on how much over the 14 volt mark your gauge is reading, you may have a voltage regulator that could be overcharging the battery at a rate that is too high relative to what the system requires. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. A common sign of this is usually the acid inside the battery boiling causing the battery to swell. You may also smell a bit of smoke due to things potentially getting too hot. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.

ANSWER : Hi there:

One of the common items to be overlooked during routine charging system inspections is the battery temperature sensor. This is typically installed at the bottom of the battery box and can cause the battery light to illuminate if it’s dirty, corroded or needs to be replaced. It can also cause the battery to not charge correctly or starting issues if not replaced. To be certain however, it might be a good idea to have one of our local mechanics complete a battery light is on inspection.

ANSWER : I would still recommend getting the alternator and battery tested. The most likely cause would be the alternator. The alternator can have an intermittent failure that causes it to charge and not charge randomly. If this turns out to be the case after testing, I would recommend having the alternator replaced. I would also be a good idea to have the battery fully charged while the alternator is being replaced to ensure that the vehicle starts easily. If you need help testing the vehicle, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the battery light and proceed with the correct repair.

ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may have a voltage regulator issue that might not be allowing the alternator to charge the battery sufficiently. The voltage regulator could be allowing the alternator to supply too much or too little amperage to the battery resulting in the battery never maintaining a consistent charge as it is designed to. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. A common sign of this is usually the acid inside the battery boiling causing the battery to swell. You may also smell a bit of smoke due to things potentially getting too hot. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.