My charging lamp is out when I turn on ign,also when engine running. Battery goes flat. took alternater to auto elec and he said is was all ok and to check bulb. bulb ok bottom connection on bulb holder is live, the top one goes to alternator red/white wire, & is dead. continuity test from top connection in bulb holder to alternator looks like something is switching. looks like some diode is in there somewhere, can you help?
when its running I have big live but I dont know if thats battery volts or charging volts,nowt on red/white. the van is a mint 40,ooo miler 1997 2.3 C23
Red & white feed to alternator,fed from top terminal of capless bulb in charging light, had a break in it. This is in the plastic tube that goes across the front of the engine in a r/h/d/ vehicle.
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A 98 still has a computer so with out power it will die my guess is corroded wires first use a multi meter and check for voltage on the terminal on the alternater it should show 13 to 14.5 volts D/C then check the battery see if it has 13 to 14 volts if yes it is charging if the altenater show 13 to 14 it is charging if the voltage is 11 to 12 or lower it is just reading the battery and you need a alternater if the aliternater is good and the battery is not charging it is either the power wire or ground you can use jumper cables to check jump from the post on the alternater to positive battery by its self if this fixes it it is the power wire if not unhook the positive and then connect the ground thermal to the engine block and see if that fixes it if not do both you will see the problem good luck
Battery light usually means the alternator is not charging, get yourself a multimeter, select Volts, put red probe on positive and black probe on negative while the car is running, it should read above 13 Volts, not higher than high 14s, if it reads 12 volts or lower while engine is running than your charging system, alternator mainly, needs attention, any decent mechanic can check this in 2 minutes.
Go to the library and get the motors manual for your year, make and model. Look in the electrical section for this circuit. That will guide you to find the device that is running and killing your battery ... 40 amps is a big circuit in an auto.
Its probably the alternator. It will need to be tested on the vehicle with the engine running and the light illuminated. Measure the battery voltage with the engine running. It should be at least 13.5 volts. If it is lower have the alternator tested at a shop with a charging system tester.
You probably need to change the blower motor relay. Check your fuse box diagram to see if it's in the fuse box. Disconnect the negative battery cable before replacement.
Probably it is not just charging well.
Go to Autozone store and for free they will check the battery voltage and alternator current. Draining of battery during driving means the alternator not charging the battery back or alternator is not providing current which is less than car consumed and the additional current coming from battery. The common symptoms might be the dimming the lights, heater flow on idling or than rpm goes down.
Hope that helps
Good Luck
The "battery light" is an indicator lamp for the alternator that charges the battery.
Was the "good" battery you put in charged?
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When the key is in the ON position (not running but on), the light should illuminate to show that the warning lamp bulb works, it should go off after starting the engine.
When the vehicle is running, if the the "battery" light is illuminated its a warning that the alternator is not charging the battery. A new alternator is needed here.
If the lamp goes off when running I suspect your battery is faulty.
take battery back get a new one or have it tested. like auto zone or a parts store even wal-mart now. If this battery was just dead and needed charged. Then sounds like to me you have a bad alternater. you can rely know if you can get the battery charged up and get the car to start. and while the car is running pull the positive connection of the battery if car dies bad alternater .
Down the side of the Engine where the Alternator is there should be a few wires.
1 goes to the oil pressure sensor
Another few wires go to the Alternator there are 2 circuits one is for charging which is a little thicker which is bolted under a nut & a few smaller wires which do 2 things.There is a low current circuit that applies 12v to one side of the battery lamp on the dash & when the enging is running this 12v is on the lamp & the 12v from the battery is on the other side so the lamp is out .
If the alternater isn't turning 0 volts is coming from the alternator & the Battery lamp is on.
These smaller diameter wires are important for the monitoring & charging the battery.
If you can't get the battery lamp & other monitoring lamps on the dash to illuminate when turning the key around to run not start your going to have battery charging problems.
I suggest you check the black plastic insulation carring these wires in them may be cracked or broken.
I own a few 240 series volvo's & I think I have had just about every electrical problem possible.
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