Battery Light On: Causes And Solutions

Your car starts but you notice that the battery light stays on? There is probably no need to rush to the mechanic to have change your battery! Find in this article all the possible causes if your battery light does not turn off!

How to recognize the battery indicator?

Your dashboard has a light that comes on in the event of a battery problem. As it is one of the most important indicators in your car, it is often placed near the speedometer, or in the center of your instrumentation, to be as visible as possible.

Lit in yellow, orange or red depending on the model, the battery indicator is represented by a rectangle with two points (symbolizing the terminals) inside which the signs + and – are written, with two points symbolizing the external terminals.

Why is my battery light on?

The battery indicator lights up if the voltage is abnormal, that is to say lower or higher than 12.7 volts as recommended. This has an impact on the starting of your car, but also on the electrical or electronic elements present around you.

But why is your battery voltage abnormal? The causes are very diverse, here are the main ones:

• You have left your headlights, air conditioning or radio on for too long without the engine running;
• The battery terminals (the outer terminals) are oxidized and do not allow current to pass to the starter and others poorly or not components;
• The cables are burned, damaged, have cracks, which could create a short circuit;
• The ambient cold reduced battery performance;
• Your car that has not been driven for a long time gradually discharges your battery;
• The high heat could have caused the liquid to evaporate, leaving the electrodes (terminals) in the air and therefore unable to conduct the current;
• A fuse has blown.

What to do when the battery light turns on?

Depending on the different causes mentioned above, you must react accordingly to resolve the problems with specific operations:

• If you have abused the electrical elements (car radio, ceiling light, headlights on, etc.) with the engine off, you must restart it so that it recharges your battery ;
• If the terminals are oxidized, unplug the cables, clean the terminals with a wire brush and reconnect;
• Check the condition of the cables, spray with water if necessary to detect an electric arc, and change them if necessary;
• In case of cold or extreme heat, check the voltage with a voltmeter. Under 12.4 volts, you will need to recharge or even change your battery since the loss of capacity can be irreversible;
• If a fuse has blown, simply replace it! No need for garage intervention, it’s very simple to handle and it really doesn’t cost much.

Good to know: to avoid a battery problem, avoid keeping your car outside, exposing it to extreme temperatures, and disconnect the battery if you leave it unused for a long period of time.

A battery problem can also be caused by a problem with alternator, or a problem with its belt. Want to know more about the symptoms of a dead battery? We tell you everything you need to know in our dedicated article.