Battery light

[Muley Gil]

My wife's vehicle is a 2004 Ford Escape, 3 liter V6 and automatic. A months ago the battery light came on, so I went by my car parts dealer and had them check the battery. It had a Nov 2009 sticker, so I opted for a new battery.

However, the light still come on every now and then. The alternator checked out OK.

Any thoughts or hints?

 

[pete44ru]

.

Find an independent mechanic with a laptop that has a Ford analysis program installed, to read the vehicle computer's error codes.

It might be just a failing sensor or a wire/connection to same.

.

 

[Valmet]

+1 to Pete’s advice

 

[gramps]

Agree with Pete also. It could just be a loose connection, corrosion, or a mouse that chewed away some insulation?
gramps

 

[Bull Barrel]

Some vehicles have a battery temp sensor. It may be overcharging causing it to overheat or the sensor could be bad.

 

[yooper1]

search Youtube.

A handful of similar problems with cures are there.

 

[blume357]

Simple answer, time for a new car.

 

[Bobberfishin]

Some times there's a "special little dance" they make you go thru to reset the light.
My Dodge van had a thing where you needed to put the key in & turn to accessory, then tap the brake pedal 2 or 3 time to reset the system.

 

[Muley Gil]

Simple answer, time for a new car.

No, she loves this little SUV.

 

[Fox Mike]

Many cars alternator also have the voltage regulator internal to it. I had a car doing similar things that you describe. The alternator section worked as designed but the regulator portion was bad.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Put a piece of tape over the light. If you start to have trouble then work on it.

 

[CGDustDevil]

My wife's vehicle is a 2004 Ford Escape, 3 liter V6 and automatic. A months ago the battery light came on, so I went by my car parts dealer and had them check the battery. It had a Nov 2009 sticker, so I opted for a new battery.

However, the light still come on every now and then. The alternator checked out OK.

Any thoughts or hints?

Is the top of the battery clean and dry? Especially between the cells? If it's wet, it could indicate overcharging. If the light is intermittent in a more or less rapid fashion (e.g. blinks off and on in no particular cadence, but frequently or even semi frequently), then it very well could be a high resistance connection somewhere. (corrosion) Sometimes corrosion gets under the insulation on your cables and can lead to all kinds of electrical mischief!

Regards, Pete

 

[ronto]

"Every now and then" probably a bad connection somewhere. Check the ground wires first.

 

[Jeepnik]

See, this is why my new car is a 1982 Jeep. And, I use Optima batteries.

If they break I can fix them without a computer.

 

[Mobuck]

Probably not the answer but this did happen to me.
The serpentine drive belt's little spring loaded idler spring was age weakened and the belt was somewhat worn. Every time the battery needed more than a moderate charge, the "battery " light came on because the slipping belt failed to turn the alternator sufficiently. New belt and tightener solved the issue.

 

[CGDustDevil]

Probably not the answer but this did happen to me.
The serpentine drive belt's little spring loaded idler spring was age weakened and the belt was somewhat worn. Every time the battery needed more than a moderate charge, the "battery " light came on because the slipping belt failed to turn the alternator sufficiently. New belt and tightener solved the issue.

I have heard that could happen by one of the local shops where I used to take my company vehicle. I was jabbering with the service writer/manager one day while my truck was being serviced. He said the serpentine belts tend not to squeal like a V-Belt will when they're loose, and just as you say, the load on the alternator would allow what he called 'silent slippage'. Interesting phenomenon!

Regards, Pete

 

[caryc]

Some times there's a "special little dance" they make you go thru to reset the light.
My Dodge van had a thing where you needed to put the key in & turn to accessory, then tap the brake pedal 2 or 3 time to reset the system.

The Dodge vans will also display any error codes on the dash if there is any problem. Turn the key from off to on three times.

 

[toysoldier]

Long ago, before I started buying Toyotas, I had a few problems with electrics. I learned to check and clean the battery connections, then start checking every connection under the hood and in the fuse box for loose or corroded connections.