All modern vehicles on the road nowadays have a 12-volt battery. The battery is rechargeable, and provides energy to all electrical components of the vehicle. This includes headlights, engine control unit, ignition system, interior lights, and the radio. If the battery dies or fails to recharge, the vehicle will not be able to function.
Earlier there were two ways that the car owners will know when the car battery is about to die. They will either check the voltage of the battery or wait until the headlights start to flicker.
Today,?modern vehicles have a dashboard that contains a battery light. The light will illuminate whenever the battery is about to die or if the battery is low on voltage. This is a convenient way to determine if the battery needs to be replaced. This ensures that you are not stranded on the road when driving.
5 Top Causes of a Car Battery Light on While Driving
There are many causes that contribute to the car battery light switching on when driving. The top 5 causes are listed below. There may also be more than one cause. The list will enable you to become aware of what to look for in your vehicle.
When you are aware of the causes, you will be able to correct the problem. You may have to replace or fix some or entire components or parts.
Weak Battery ? If the battery is more than 2 years old there is a possibility it will die soon. This is especially true if the car is driven frequently every day.
Vehicle batteries also die fast if you live in Florida, which is a hot geographical region. Car batteries die faster when used in hot temperatures. If the battery is about to die, the car light might come at any time.
Bad Alternator ? Alternators last for 4 ? 5 years in a vehicle. Alternators keep the battery fully charged when you drive the vehicle. If the alternator is not in good shape, it will not be able to keep the battery charged.
When there is inconsistency in the charge, the battery light will illuminate. If the alternator dies completely then the power that is left in the battery will get exhausted within a few minutes.
Bad Alternator Belt ? The alternator belt connects the alternator and crankshaft together. The alternator will not be able to function properly if the alternator belt is damaged.
This means the car battery will not be able to receive the charge that is required to power the electrical components of the vehicle. The battery light will come on when this happens.
