Simply remove the terminal covers, disconnect the battery cables, and give the terminals a hearty scrub. Fortunately, it’s easy and inexpensive to clean your battery terminals with common household items and a bit of elbow grease. If you noticed significant corrosion or other grime around your battery terminals, this could be why your car battery light is on. Instead, head to our next troubleshooting tip.
Don't touch battery corrosion with your bare hands, as it could cause skin irritation. If you see a white or greenish substance on the top of the battery or around the terminals, you've got corrosion! While battery corrosion is common, it can interfere with the conduction of electricity from the battery to the rest of your car.
To check for corrosion, remove any covers from the terminals on top of your battery. In some vehicles, fumes from regular operation can cause corrosion to accumulate on top of the battery terminals, especially during summer months or in regions with year-round warm weather. So put on some protective gloves, consult your owner's manual, and then carefully follow the steps below to troubleshoot the battery yourself. But, the light could also be triggered by a minor (and easily fixable) issue like corrosion or loose clamps. Now let's talk about your car battery light! It could mean it's time to replace the battery. It needs more "juice!" Troubleshooting Your Battery Light Your car isn't getting enough voltage from the car battery to operate properly. Faulty wiring in the car's electric charging systemĪ dashboard battery light basically means there's a battery charging problem.Damaged cells or plates inside the battery.A problem with the alternator or voltage regulator.
You'll likely notice other signs of a weak battery charge, like power windows that are slow to come up or a stereo that won't turn on.Īn illuminated battery light could be due to a number of issues, including:
If the light stays on as you’re driving, though, pay attention. The light will turn off after a few seconds. If your car battery light comes on when you start the car, you're in the clear! It’s completely normal for this light to illuminate when you first turn on your car. It might be a quick fix! What Does the Battery Light Mean? But before you break out the jumper cables or worry about possible repairs, take some time to determine why your dashboard battery light is on. A dashboard car battery light could signal any number of issues under the hood, from a damaged battery to a glitch in the alternator. How often do you think about your car battery? If you’re like most people, the answer is “never”-until there’s an issue with it.