Battery light on, then goes off after 15-20min... Issue???

[omalak]

Hi guys,

I have a problem and i'm not exactly sure what the issue is.

About three weeks ago I started getting a battery light indicator on my car. The light would stay on for about 20 or 30 minutes, if I continue to drive past that, the light turns off and doesn't come back on for the rest of the drive.

I took my car to Jimmy today for a regular oil change, drove from Mississauga to Markham.

- When I left Mississauga the light was on, twenty minutes into the drive it went off.

- Jimmy turned on the car several times when I had arrived and the light did not come on.

it seems the light will only come on if the car has been sitting for a few hours.

I had the battery tested by Canadian Tire and Jimmy, both say the battery is fine. The car starts fine no issues. no visible loss of power while driving either.

2008.5 Mazda 3 Sedan

any ideas on what the issue could be?

[SonicBoy]

Did you have the alternator tested to see if it's operating properly?

[omalak]

Jimmy did not do any tests on alternator as far as I know.

am I correct in assuming to test the alternator I should start the car and take a multi meter to the battery and get a voltage reading of 13.8v to 14.2v?

[McGuyver_3]

sounds like an alternator issue and yes it should be charging in that range. It could go as high as 14.5

[morganc]

Knowing your voltage is good, but you could also have a weak alternator in terms of actual power delivery. The battery light can go on when a 'net discharge' condition is observed. So it may be producing 13-14V, but at too low of a current, so the car is consuming more than it can produce. Your brushes could be going on it.

[omalak]

well.. today the light didn't turn off on the Gardiner, instead my abs light came on.... then my power steering.. then other things.. quickly pulled off onto yonge and lost power steering. managed to get to the side of the road by queen and bond. turned on the car and it wouldn't start. seems like the alternator didnt charge the batt this time.

i just got it towed to Jimmy's.

my questions now are:

1. do i let jimmy procure the alternator?
2. what is recommended, rebuilt or brand new?
3. i have heard about wallys auto electric, are they any good places to buy an alternator? does brand matter?


thanks

[SonicBoy]

1. See what Jimmy can source and what the repair will cost
2. If going rebuilt, compare what is the warranty compared to a new one. The answer to this will depend on if you plan on keeping the car long term as well as the cost difference.
3. No rating for Wally's on the BBB website and have never dealt with them. Bosch is a good brand with alternators.

Not a fun time/place for your car to break down. Look at the bright side, better for it to happen now before it gets cold and snowy than for it to happen then.

[Jackal]

well.. today the light didn't turn off on the Gardiner, instead my abs light came on.... then my power steering.. then other things.. quickly pulled off onto yonge and lost power steering. managed to get to the side of the road by queen and bond. turned on the car and it wouldn't start. seems like the alternator didnt charge the batt this time.

i just got it towed to Jimmy's.

my questions now are:

1. do i let jimmy procure the alternator?
2. what is recommended, rebuilt or brand new?
3. i have heard about wallys auto electric, are they any good places to buy an alternator? does brand matter?


thanks

Allow him to diagnose the problem first.
1. Yes if that's the problem. It could be a loose wire for all you know.
2. Let Jimmy take care of it.
3. Let Jimmy take care of it.
4. Pay Jimmy.
5. Done.


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[omalak]

Sooo.... Jimmy replaced the alternator.. car worked well for 3 days.. now I am getting the battery light again! Jimmy said to bring the car back because maybe the new alternator is defective (new being rebuilt i imagine).

Anyways.. now i have to figure out how to get my car from Mississauga to Markham with the battery light on.

Could it be anything other than the alt and battery? anythung i can check?

[Jackal]

Sooo.... Jimmy replaced the alternator.. car worked well for 3 days.. now I am getting the battery light again! Jimmy said to bring the car back because maybe the new alternator is defective (new being rebuilt i imagine).

Anyways.. now i have to figure out how to get my car from Mississauga to Markham with the battery light on.

Could it be anything other than the alt and battery? anythung i can check?

Bad luck. Hopefully it gets fixed up this time around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[6mtsedan]

Hi guys,

I have a problem and i'm not exactly sure what the issue is.

About three weeks ago I started getting a battery light indicator on my car. The light would stay on for about 20 or 30 minutes, if I continue to drive past that, the light turns off and doesn't come back on for the rest of the drive.

I took my car to Jimmy today for a regular oil change, drove from Mississauga to Markham.

- When I left Mississauga the light was on, twenty minutes into the drive it went off.

- Jimmy turned on the car several times when I had arrived and the light did not come on.

it seems the light will only come on if the car has been sitting for a few hours.

I had the battery tested by Canadian Tire and Jimmy, both say the battery is fine. The car starts fine no issues. no visible loss of power while driving either.

2008.5 Mazda 3 Sedan

any ideas on what the issue could be?

http://www.canadianautoelectric.com/

I used these guys before for my Cobra alternator. No problems at all.

[Noisy Crow]

Could be a bad / broken ground strap.