voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
First problem was engine warning light came on for a few days, then it went off and voltage warning light came on. As I would drive the voltage light would turn off, and when i stopped it would come on again. Once I had replaced the alternator and battery the car would run for a bit, then driving home the voltage warning light would come on, a couple of minutes later ALL gauges and power would stop working but it still ran. When I would come to a stop the car would sputter and die. I jumped it 4 times to get me 20 miles home. Checked all fuses, traced wires, saw nothing except the positive cab
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Nothing should be replaced until you have in hand a definitive diagnostic pinpointing the faulty segment of the car’s electrical system. There may be too much voltage drop in the charging circuit, as well as elsewhere, but start with the charging circuit. The faulty segment could be anywhere, so using the factory wiring diagram you just have to methodically and systematically test the entire charging circuit until the fault is found. It’s laborious but compared to replacing parts that might be perfectly good, properly diagnosing the fault will save you money and time in the end. As far as the engine warning light, at the moment I would fix the issue with the charging system first because that may resolve the check engine light. If it doesn’t, just request a check engine light diagnostic. If you want the charging circuit diagnostic steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a charging circuit diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If your Ford Focus battery warning light comes on while driving, be sure to turn off your accessories, so the battery doesn`t drain further. The warning light usually means that the alternator isn`t working properly meaning you are operating solely on battery power.
When a battery is faulty or undercharged, it won`t be able to send the right amount of energy to your vehicle`s computer. This may cause the check engine light to flip on. If you drive a newer model car, you may also have a handy battery warning light on your dashboard.
What to do when the alternator warning light is on. As mentioned before, if this light is on, it means that your engine cannot produce enough power to keep itself running.
The battery light on your car dashboard signals a charging problem with your car battery. If the light turns and stays on, it might be that your alternator isn`t generating enough voltage to charge it. Common causes can be a broken alternator belt, damaged battery cells or a failed alternator.
What is draining my Ford Focus battery? The most common cause of a battery drain in any vehicle is a parasitic draw. This is an electrical current that is being drawn from the battery even when the car is turned off.
A faulty alternator not only turns the check engine light on, it also risks your safety. If the alternator fails when you`re driving, the car radio will go off, the interior lights will dim, and you will experience extreme difficulty in driving.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE A FAILING ALTERNATOR. If you have a “Check Engine” light on, connect a code reader to the diagnostic port. If you find code P0562, you very likely have a failing alternator (note that codes may vary by vehicle make/model/year).
If the voltage does not change when the engine is started, if it does not get above 13 volts, or if it charges above 15 volts then the alternator may be faulty. Tip: If the voltage is low, you can lightly wiggle the electrical connections on the back of the alternator to see if the voltage changes.
There are many reasons why the car battery light might come on, but generally, the reasons are: An old car battery. Car battery connections that are corroded. Car battery cables that are misconnected.
It is unsafe to drive with your car battery light on. Issues that activate your car battery light, like a defective battery or faulty alternator, can cause your car to lose power. In these instances, your car won`t operate as it normally would.
There are many reasons why your battery light could turn on. It could indicate a bad battery or dead battery, a charging problem, a faulty alternator, a wiring issue, and so on. And while driving with the vehicle`s battery light on is possible, it`s not recommended.
It is unsafe to drive with your car battery light on. Issues that activate your car battery light, like a defective battery or faulty alternator, can cause your car to lose power. In these instances, your car won`t operate as it normally would.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
ANSWER : Nothing should be replaced until you have in hand a definitive diagnostic pinpointing the faulty segment of the car’s electrical system. There may be too much voltage drop in the charging circuit, as well as elsewhere, but start with the charging circuit. The faulty segment could be anywhere, so using the factory wiring diagram you just have to methodically and systematically test the entire charging circuit until the fault is found. It’s laborious but compared to replacing parts that might be perfectly good, properly diagnosing the fault will save you money and time in the end. As far as the engine warning light, at the moment I would fix the issue with the charging system first because that may resolve the check engine light. If it doesn’t, just request a check engine light diagnostic. If you want the charging circuit diagnostic steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a charging circuit diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
Charging warning light comes on when i turn the key and try to start the car and the car want start but when someone tried to give
ANSWER : Hi there:
If you recently replaced your battery, the issue may be caused by a malfunctioning alternator or other electrical component that comprises the charging system on your Nissan Sentra. The best way to find out which item specifically is faulty, is to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection. This will allow the mechanic to determine the precise source of what’s going on with your Sentra and recommend or complete the right repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
Car won’t start. The check engine light, battery light, and oil change light are coming on. I tried jumping the car and nothing happened. Why won’t my car start?
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. If sometimes your vehicle will start with the new alternator and sometimes it won’t, then there is a loose connection in your charging system. Check all of the wires to the alternator and to the battery. Make sure that the battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure that the wires to the starter are clean and tight. A loose ground to the ignition system will cause the vehicle to not crank over. Check all of the ground wires from the battery to the starter. Make sure that they are clean and tight. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your no start situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you.
Read Full Q/A … : voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
Battery and oil light come on when trying to start car, take keys out try again car starts no problem and lights go away
ANSWER : Of course, don’t switch gears without being fully stopped, unless your Owner’s Manual or the manufacturer has alternative advice. However, the gear shift issue has no relation to the no-start problem you are describing. Inasmuch as you only have 6,000 miles on the car, the "constant on and off" that you believe has occurred is meaningless in comparison to the expected total vehicle service life. That is, assume what you perceive as "constant on and off", during merely 6,000 miles, might be equivalent to using the car "normally" for three years. A new car should be trouble free for at least 5 years, unless there is a defect, so your "constant on and off" is not a causal factor for any fault on the vehicle. What you might have is a defect in the ignition switch, or perhaps the immobilizer system, but if the problem is not in the switch itself, clearly there is an electrical problem.
If your vehicle is under warranty, by law the dealer MUST repair the issue you are describing within a prescribed time frame and number of "attempts", otherwise the dealer will run afoul of Federal and state Lemon Laws that give you very specific rights, and recourse (contact an Attorney; we are Mechanics, NOT attorneys). Consequently, if the vehicle is still under warranty, to save yourself money do be sure to seek a resolution from the dealer. If the vehicle is not under warranty, obviously a certified Mechanic from YourMechanic could identify the electrical fault and resolve this for you. If you want to go that route, please simply request a no start diagnostic -electrical system and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
Whenever I drive 1.5 miles, the s3 light starts blinking and then when I stop my car and come back to it, the car won’t start.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. It is difficult to determine the issue without some more information. To start, when the check engine light illuminates, you want to scan the vehicle for diagnostic codes. These are what set the check engine light off, and are meant to tell the driver what the computer has detected is wrong. Codes can be pulled at most automotive parts stores, and by most technicians. Once you have that information you can focus in on one component or system. If the engine is truly overheating, then you want to start by checking your coolant and fluid levels. For more help with diagnosing and resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Read Full Q/A … : voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
Low coolant light comes on when AC, defrost or heater is on, but only if the car is in gear and stopped, what’s wrong with my car?
ANSWER : First, you want to make sure your cooling system is full. Check the radiator not the coolant jug. And check it when it is cold. If it needs coolant, add some. Of course, I don’t feel this problem is an actual low coolant condition. I would expect to find an electrical failure in the instrument cluster or from a component or wiring harness that is connected to the instrument cluster.
As a technician, I have access to reports from technicians across the country. I could not find any reports of this problem, so diagnosing this will require an experienced tech as this is not a common problem. In addition, this happens at intermittent times making it difficult to recreate. The most challenging part of this diagnosis will be recreating the symptom. I suspect it has something to do with the brake switch circuitry because it only seems to happen when you have your foot on the brake. I would begin my diagnosis there with a wiring diagram and test light in hand. The brake switch, instrument cluster, and environmental controls all interact with each other. Something is crossed either because of a failed module or damaged wiring in a harness.
Aside from making sure the coolant is full, this will not likely leave you on the side of the road. If you take it in to be diagnosed, be prepared for them to spend more time than usual to figure it out. Since it isn’t a key problem, you may need to live with it until it completely fails making it much easier to diagnose. Either way, I do recommend having a certified mechanic diagnose the warning light to make sure there isn’t anything serious going on.
Good luck.
Read Full Q/A … : voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
Battery light goes on when I start car then turns off, if I rev engine light comes back until rpms go down. Abs goes comes on/off
ANSWER : Batteries can die due to faults in the charging system so ideally a suspected "faulty" battery should be load tested before a decision is made to condemn it. The only exception to this rule is if the battery is already clearly "old" (greater than 5 years) but even then once you put a new battery in, as a replacement for a "dead" battery, you have to comprehensively check out the charging system. Diagnostic Trouble Code P0460 will result in disruption of the dashboard fuel gauge’s ability to accurately report your tank’s fuel levels. The fuel gauge readings may be erratic, or read somewhere off scale. Vehicles equipped with a low fuel warning light feature may also suffer from erratic low fuel warnings in the event of a code P0460. Unless the P0460 code has been reported alongside other trouble code, all of the vehicle’s essential systems should otherwise function normally. I would recommend that you request a check engine light diagnostic to first resolve the fault causing the P0460 code to set. The check gas cap light warning light could be due a faulty gas cap and/or small leaks in the EVAP system.
Read Full Q/A … : voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
Car won’t start after seeing engine hot turn a/c off warning light.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the battery cables and make sure that they are tight and clean. Then check the battery voltage and see if it has a voltage of 12.6 or 12.4. If the battery is less than that, then the battery needs charged. If the battery has 12.4 volts or higher, then place a load tester on the battery and see if the battery can hold a charge when a load is applied. If the battery drops under 9.6 volts, then the battery is no good and needs replaced. If the battery drops to 11.5 volts, then there is a dry cell and possible a burned cell and the battery needs replaced. If you need further assistance with testing your car battery, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
