Battery light?

Hey all, I was running errands the other day and had my battery light kick on. Voltage on the voltmeter dropped lower than it’s normal reading at the same time. I got the battery tested and it was strong. About half an hour after as I was driving home the light went away and the voltage read normal. Does this sound like a failing alternator? Anyone have any experience with this?

 

If it isn’t your battery, it could be your alternator or a bad connection between the two. Also make sure you’re not overloading the battery with accessories.

 

Sounds like one or more of the following to me:

• Loose battery terminal, loose alternator terminal, or other connect bridging the two
• Bad ground, or loose ground in the engine bay
• Corrosion inside the battery or alternator cables, inside the sheath, where you can't see it (<-- this is my #1 suspect)

There's any number of other things it *could* be, but given how many times people visiting here seeking help have found corrosion inside their cables and it causing starting/charging/misc other electrical failures, that's the 1st avenue I'd be pursuing after checking the easiest ones above it.

 

Seems like it might be worn alternator brushes.

 

Its not a battery light, common misconception because well, it looks like a battery. But it has nothing to do with your battery at all.

Its your alternator. Either the alternator is failing, or the wire from it to the battery is bad.