Your car battery charging system directly relates to important processes, such as your car’s ignition system and lighting processes.
So, in effect, your service battery charging system is related to other systems like the:
- Ignition system.
- Navigation system.
- Lighting system.
- Fuel system & Fuel Injection system.
- As well as the rest of the Engine Management systems
Other systems are somewhat related to each other, too, but many depend on and operate on the service battery charging system. This is why you have to be intuitive and careful when it comes to servicing your battery charging system.
It is somewhat of a Central system on which many other systems depend. You have to understand how it works to know it better and for what it is worth.
What Does a Service Battery Charging System Mean?
Battery charging system varies with cars depending on the age of the car. The battery charging system in most cars consists of the electronic control unit or the computer, the battery, the alternator, and the wiring.
Cars made before the 1990s had charging systems that required a voltage regulator to keep the alternator functioning correctly.
So, when the engine is running, the alternator will produce electricity, and the electricity flows through the electrical system of the car.
The battery light in this system will come on whenever there is a difference in the voltage.
As the cars became more sophisticated, the car manufacturers figured out a way to change the voltage regulators for a computer that gave an accurate reading of the voltage.
In the modern battery charging system, the battery light is lit if the computer detects a change in the voltage in the system.
Here’s how the components interact with each other for the battery charging system as a whole.
The Alternator
The alternator converts the mechanical energy from the car engine to electrical energy to power the car accessories and to charge the car battery.
The Electronics Control Unit
This controls the electronic system. It controls as well how the electrical power in the car is apportioned. In effect, it controls the electrical energy produced by the alternator.
It also detects when the car battery needs charging and when it varies the energy flux of the car.
The Battery
This is more or less a bank for the electrical energy produced by the alternator. The energy with which it starts the engine is drawn from its store.
When the car is not running, this battery powers the accessories. It also assumes this function when the alternator fails.
The Wiring
This is the wire interconnecting the three components as concerns the battery charging system.
What’s Happening When the Service Battery Charging System Light Comes On?
The battery/check charging system light is one of those lights on your dashboard that you always want to take heed of. It is an amber or red battery-shaped symbol and can be called anything from “Bat” to “Alt,” depending on your car.
So, what does a service battery charging system mean? This light merely comes on as a warning that something is not right in the car’s charging system.
It often only comes on when you are driving because the battery charging system is in such a state of disrepair that the car’s operations are powered only by the electrical charge stored in the battery.
There is a defect in the generation of electrical energy in the car, so the vehicle is running only on the power it has acquired without destroying anything in the process.
It is generating no more electrical energy, and in fact, left this way for too long, due to neglect, it will itself run out of electrical charge and die.
And once the battery dies, the car stops functioning at all. So, you have no more than a short time frame in which to take care of whatever it is that made the light come on at all. You could get more information about what this means by consulting your owner’s booklet.
What Can Cause My Service Battery Charging System Light To Come On?
There are several reasons your car battery/check charging system light can come on.
#1. A Problem with the Drive belt.
The drive—the drive belt is responsible for turning the alternator’s pulley, powering it up basically. A drive belt that is worn or no longer functional will definitely affect how the alternator works.
For instance, it may not be spinning fast enough, or it probably keeps slipping off. In either case, the alternators will not be working as they should, and when that happens, the volts will be affected, bringing the check charging system light on.
#2. Wiring Issues.
The network of wires that make up the wiring of the charging system is also vital to how the alternator works. So, when there is an issue with the wiring, the voltage generated will be affected ultimately, and the battery system light will come on.
#3. A Bad Electrical Control Unit.
The electrical control unit—that’s the computer—controls how the battery charging system works, in regulating the voltage generated from the alternator.
Having issues with your electrical control unit will affect the voltage regulation and set off the check charging light.
#4. Battery Issues.
A failed car battery is definitely one of the main issues that would trigger a battery charging light to come on. The battery can no longer hold a charge, hence affecting the battery charging system.
Also, issues with the terminals of the car’s battery would affect the battery charging system. For instance, a corroded or disconnected terminal should affect battery performance adversely, setting the check charging system light off.
#5. A Failed Alternator.
Probably the most critical part of the battery charging system, since it converts mechanical energy to electrical energy.
A failed alternator would definitely bring the check charging system light on, since the regulation of the voltage would no longer be maintained.
Is It Safe To Drive With The Service Battery Charging System Light On?
It is not a smart idea for you to be driving around with the Service Battery Charging System light on. Whenever you see this light, the only driving you should be doing is towards a mechanic shop where you can get the problem fixed.
The reason behind that advice is that this light comes on only when your car’s battery charging system isn’t working well. So once this light comes on, you have to race against time to get the problem fixed.
If you don’t fix the problem ASAP, your car might just shut down on you without any notice, and if you happen to be on the highway, that might present serious problems for you and other road users.
You might make things better by switching off your car stereo, air conditioning, and generally things that draw electricity. But your best bet, once you see this light, would be to get some help from some professionals and reset the service battery charging system. If you don’t do that, you really don’t want to know what might happen.
How Do I Check My Charging System?
One way to deal with the Service Battery Charging System light coming on is to check the charging system yourself.
It’s something you can do in the right direction, too. So this is how to check your car’s charging system (without reference to the type of car). Here’s what to do if you’re looking to service a battery charging system, Chevy Cruze, for instance.
Check the Battery
You are simply making sure that the car battery is in good health and that it is well-charged too. Check the hydrometer of the battery for one thing: to see that you have a green eye showing in the hydrometer.
You will want to do well to ensure that the battery terminal connections carry no residue of corrosion, and that they are well fastened. Clean off residues or corrosion of the battery terminal, as the case may be.
Also, check the battery terminals for the voltage. With no load on it, it should be about 12 volts.
You can also test that your battery is at full capacity using a test light or multimeter as follows:
- Flip your Battery tester to the ‘OFF’ position.
- You then flip the multimeter selector switch to the DV volt position.
- Next, attach both tools to the positive battery post. Let the negative test leads be connected to the negative battery post. You also want the multimeter clips to touch the battery posts, not the tester clips.
- Rotate the load control knob in a right-handed direction so that the ammeter reads about one-half of the battery’s cold-cranking amps.
- Now look at the multimeter reading. A reading of about 9.6 volts at 21 degrees centigrade shows good battery capacity. Anything lower means that the battery is bad. But you may want to charge it up to confirm its state.
Check the Alternator
You could also benchmark the car’s alternator to check that it is healthy. If you plan to service the battery charging system Impala, for example, do as follows:
- Turn OFF all electrical accessories
- Make sure that the car is in “NEUTRAL,” and the parking brake is on.
- Accepting that you have done that, follow up with the No-Load Test and Load Test.
- Set the Battery Tester to its ammeter function.
- Connect the positive and negative leads of the Battery Tester to their respective battery terminals.
- Insert the current probe into the alternator B+ output lead.
- The alternator output should have a greater output when the car engine runs at 2000 rpm
- Set the Battery Tester to its voltmeter and with the alternator B + l terminal, set the Positive lead of the voltmeter to ground, and the negative lead.
- Keep all electrical accessories turned OFF.
- The voltage should be in the region of 13.0 and 15.0 volts when the engine runs at 2,000 rpm.
Check the Other Components
After you have established that both the alternator and battery are in good shape, you should proceed to check other parts of the battery charging system to see that all are in good working order.
For example, part of another charging system check should be to inspect the Serpentine belt and see that it is not damaged or too loose.
You might also check the wiring, and yes, connections, terminals, and fuses are in place and intact. Make sure also that the harness connector that connects the alternator is tight.
FAQs.
Q: How much is it to fix a charging system?
That depends on what part of the system needs replacing, your car’s make and model, and where you live.
That said, you might be looking to spend something in the region of $250-$1,000 repairing your car’s charging system if you get it worked on by a mechanic shop. It might be much cheaper if you go the DIY route since you eliminate labor costs.
Q: Can I jump a car with a bad alternator?
Yes. You can jump a car with a bad alternator. However, you don’t want the jumper cables stay connected longer than necessary, as this can potentially ruin your car’s electronics.
Q: Can AutoZone check the charging system?
Yes, you can have your starter motor, alternator, or battery checked free of charge at any AutoZone outlet across the United States.
Q: What maintenance is required for the charging system?
Looking after your charging system is not a big deal once you know what to do. Here are some of them.
- Reduce corrosion: Corrosion reduces the flow of current through the electrical circuit. So, you want to clean residue and corrosion on your electrical connectors and such.
- Reduce excessive draw of current: Avoid doing things that could draw excess power from the battery, like jamming to music with the volume high while the engine is off. Such things can drain your battery.
- Inspect the drive belt: Make sure that it is not loose and not worn at the same time. If it is, then be sure to have it replaced as soon as you can.
Final Words
Sometimes you have to service a battery charging system because the operation of your car depends on it.
That is why you need to understand how it works. This article has explained how the system works and also explains what the battery/check charging system light coming on means and when it comes on.
Hopefully, you now know some of the things that can affect your car’s charging system, what to do if it happens, how to check the charging system, and how you can keep your car’s charging system in tip-top condition.