Battery Warning Light

[xcrave]

Hi all... im back again for one of my previous listed problem in my thread... i didnt recieve any reply for the listed problem so i decided to post a specific thread (hope the mods agreed)I have a battery warning light (red battery icon in top center @ center instrument cluster)I have read a lot of forum and zoom in to 2 very likely problem and i hope the sifu can point out which one to do first and most likely the problem are:#1 Alternator -> Voltage Regulator + brush#2 Newly Installed HID Headlight & FOG wiring need to be rerunned and checked which involve a major testing on all wiring for Headlights and SignalsI had done the OBS Test # 19.0 > L_Off > 9.0Battery Voltage 12+Alternator Voltage 14+Any pointers is welcomed thx in advance One of the mechanics had pointed that the regulator was the culprit but after reading more bad wiring and Ignition system can also lead to this?HELP!

 

[eujinee]

it looks like ur alternator and battery is ok.....i dun think HID o fog light is the culprit..if the were most likely u get a light warning at ur dashboard...

better go to another mechanic to get it checked..where r u from....mayb can recomend u to local bmw expertise workshop

 

[xcrave]

hmmm im from KK... AB wont accept recon car here... also another workshop MBS is the new Potong kakitangan for Beemer owners...

 

[xcrave]

another mechanic says its the Regulator.... any ideas guys?

 

[xcrave]

BTW my mysterious Red Battery Sign still there... sent for few mechanic... all say regulator (cause it will cost the most i guess) but i hope someone will come up and clear the air... never seen anyone answer this question before done searches on a few forum all related to Reading of low alternator (which is not in my case)....

 

[YaZmEeN]

Try to check ur battery after driving it for awhile, then feel it with ur hands. If its hot and smelly, ur alternator might have overcharging problem. It happened to me before, the battery light came out at seremban, and continue to drive to subang. On my way there, got foul smell and when i reached subang, open my boot and thats it, my battery almost melted. Have to change both battery and alternator then

 

[xcrave]

did just that... but no heat (other than car heat) or smell...

This is just weird and ive read more forum for answer to no avail...

 

[jarance]

Hi all... im back again for one of my previous listed problem in my thread... i didnt recieve any reply for the listed problem so i decided to post a specific thread (hope the mods agreed)

I have a battery warning light (red battery icon in top center @ center instrument cluster)

I have read a lot of forum and zoom in to 2 very likely problem and i hope the sifu can point out which one to do first and most likely the problem are:

#1 Alternator -> Voltage Regulator + brush

#2 Newly Installed HID Headlight & FOG wiring need to be rerunned and checked which involve a major testing on all wiring for Headlights and Signals

I had done the OBS Test # 19.0 > L_Off > 9.0

Battery Voltage 12+
Alternator Voltage 14+

Any pointers is welcomed thx in advance


One of the mechanics had pointed that the regulator was the culprit but after reading more bad wiring and Ignition system can also lead to this?

HELP!

reading 9..

what the reading at idling 850 rpm and 3000 rpm reading.

 

[moots]

Nahh............good info from the bimmerboard from the sifu Qsilver7

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Qsilver7

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Damaskus325
1. ...as I drive, the battery light flickers on and off and the voltage test is showing 11.7-11.9 volts while driving. According to some information on other posts, that means my battery is at 0% charge

.

2. Im thinking alternator but there is an issue with that. The old battery, while driving, was charging at 12.5 to 13 volts at times. If my alternator was bad, it would have had the same reading. Another isssue I see, is that the car is not dying. With headlights, A/C and aftermarket stereo on and a 20mile trip, there was no sign of the car dying. Why do I have this battery light on my dash and why does it say my voltage is low??

There's some good explanations as to why you're confused. Most is based on a misunderstanding of what the battery light means...and a misunderstanding of TEST 9, too

1. When you're running OBC TEST 9...if the engine is running...what is being displayed is the alternator/charging system's voltage...NOT the battery's voltage. The battery's voltage is shown when the engine is NOT running and the ignition is in position 1 or 2.

2. So armed with the information presented in #1 above...if you're driving around with TEST 9 displayed and the [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]voltage [COLOR=blue !important]reading[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] rises to 12.5-13 volts (at times)...this means that the alternator has started putting out enough volts to recharge the battery. Thus the battery isn't being totally depleted and is getting some recharge while driving around. This is also keeping your car from completely dying on you while you're driving around.

Then after replacing the battery, and the TEST 9 readings got worse (while driving around) only reinforces that the problem is that your alternator (or something in your car's charging system like [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]belts[/COLOR][/COLOR]/tensioners/pulleys) are continuing to fail and get worse.

As stated in the owners manual...the BATTERY light comes on when the battery is NO LONGER being charged properly. This means that the battery is the VICTIM...not the CULPRIT. So many people misunderstand this when the battery light comes on and think that the battery is the CULPRIT:

__________________

 

[xcrave]

I see... then i blame alternator... but still will get the alternator checked out... I bet changing the regulator is enough....

 

[markkell30]

I think that the mechanic is right. It's regulator. And the battery is okay. You can still visit any mechanic for the satisfaction.