battery light

[fuhSHO]

will the battery light ALWAYS come on if the alternator has failed??

 

[Rob94]

I'd have to say no. I had a bad alternator around Thanksgiving time. Was putting out just under 11 volts, and no battery light ever came on.

 

[SHOZ123]

I will definitely say no. It depends on the alternator. With the VAK that cuts the alternator out on the OEM alternators it will turn on the battery light. With aftermarket alternators this is not always the case.

 

[fuhSHO]

i have an OEM alternator. i got a new battery the other day, but it seems my positive terminal wasnt on tightly. i drove it all day and it was great. Then, i was driving at night (lights on)and they looked really dim. i had just got home before the battery obviously went dead. It would not start again, but i could pop-clutch start it and it would run until i turned it off, and would not start again. I'm thinking that my lights were using all the alternator juice and not recharging my battery, because my battery wasnt even charging in the first place cause it wasnt tight. Does this say dead battery but ok alternator?

 

[Mr Anonymous]

fuhSHO:
i have an OEM alternator. i got a new battery the other day, but it seems my positive terminal wasnt on tightly. i drove it all day and it was great. Then, i was driving at night (lights on)and they looked really dim. i had just got home before the battery obviously went dead. It would not start again, but i could pop-clutch start it and it would run until i turned it off, and would not start again. I'm thinking that my lights were using all the alternator juice and not recharging my battery, because my battery wasnt even charging in the first place cause it wasnt tight. Does this say dead battery but ok alternator?

If the car would run after being push-started, then the alternator is probably OK since it had to be making power to keep the car running. Go to the 'Zone and have the batty tested.