Battery warning dashboard indicator

Battery Warning Light

Car needs a  constant supply of a 12V/24V voltage for its electrical equipment to run properly. A well-known saying with software designers is that , if you put garbage, you will get garbage. If you don't give the right voltage car won't work well. The function of the battery is to give the right voltage at all times. When the car runs, the battery drains. To prevent that, car has a built in system to charge the battery. When the battery is draining below a certain voltage, the alternator will charge the battery. Therefore, a functioning battery and a charging system (alternator) is critical for a car to run properly. Car manufacturers use a dashboard indicator to notify any errors in this system. It could be as simple as a loose battery cable, or worse as a broken alternator. Therefore, anything in this system can be indicated by a battery warning indicator on your dashboard. 

Reasons for the battery warning indicator

• A loose or corroded battery cable

• A problem with the alternator or voltage regulator

• Damaged cells or plates inside the battery

• Faulty wiring in the car's electric charging system

What to do next?

Check for corrosion in battery terminals. Remove the covers on top of the battery terminals and inspect for a White or greenish substance over the  battery or terminals.  It's a common to have corrosion but not cleaning it is not normal. Corrosion can be  prevented by cleaning the battery terminials at regular intervals during car servicing.  

Clean the battery terminals. - Get a wire brush and rub over the battery terminals. Putting hot water over the terminals to speed this process. You can also use elbow grease to clean the battery terminals. 

After cleaning, tighten the cable clamps. Make sure the clamps are tight enough and not loose. You can use a pair of pliers or a small wrench to tighten the clamps.  

If the battery warning light is still on, it might be a problem with the alternator or the accessory belt that drives the alternator. Even if the belt is loose or broken, the battery won't charge properly, bringing up the warning light.  

Other signs that the alternator or the charging system aren’t working are weak headlights or the clock not showing right time.

Once the battery warning light comes on, there will be enough juice on battery to take you home or to a service station. the car will run as long as there is enough charge in the battery. When the battery is totally dead the car engine will stop and you won't be able to start the engine again. To prevent the battery draining soon, you should turn off unnecessary electrical equipment such as the radio and the air conditioning.

Take your car to the nearest service center and get the battery and the charging system inspected. Sometimes you might need to replace certain parts such as the battery, alternator or the belts.