Intermittent Battery Light

mlee4984 · Tue, Dec-23-2008, 07:44:46 PM

Hi Guys,

I have an intermittent battery light that comes on and off. Anyone know of a fix? It started to happen after I got my car back for it's subframe replacement.

Thanks for any input.
-Mike

JeST · Tue, Dec-23-2008, 07:49:59 PM

Mike, you need a new alternator. No if and s or buts about it. It's intermittent now because the alternator can't keep up with the charge. Give it time and it'll die on you at the worse possible moment and will eventually kill/drain the battery.

Get the alternator replaced. Then have your battery checked also.

ryan24 · Tue, Dec-23-2008, 08:11:40 PM

I second that. Just replaced my alternator a few weeks ago after having the same problems.

cntrvrsy · Tue, Dec-23-2008, 08:13:51 PM

I 3rd that. I got caught out there twice

.

tilolite · Tue, Dec-23-2008, 08:18:04 PM

Keep a spare alternator in your trunk cause you gonna need one soon.

JeST · Tue, Dec-23-2008, 08:21:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilolite

Keep a spare alternator in your trunk cause you gonna need one soon.

I lol'ed. Replacing the alternator isn't something you'll be able to just slap on in a matter of a few minutes. Not replacing the alternator now will cause excess strain on the battery. He needs to replace it asap and then also have his battery checked.

druwainwright · Tue, Dec-23-2008, 10:39:22 PM

I had to replace mine last week - £240. My radio was dying and the dash lights were going nuts! The new alternator sorted it. This seems to be a very very common problem.

mlee4984 · Thu, Dec-25-2008, 05:21:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeST

Mike, you need a new alternator. No if and s or buts about it. It's intermittent now because the alternator can't keep up with the charge. Give it time and it'll die on you at the worse possible moment and will eventually kill/drain the battery.

Get the alternator replaced. Then have your battery checked also.

Thanks Pete,

The dealer replaced the battery for me, I'll see what they say when I bring it in next week after the holidays.

Happy Holidays everyone!
-Mike

Fat Albert · Mon, Dec-29-2008, 05:10:53 AM

Guys,

Get your battery/alternator checked when this happens. I had to get a tow truck last night because car died in the middle of driving.

radio died first, dash board went crazy, headlight died, and then my car.

All this happened within 40min since the battery light came on. I thought I could at least make it home, but guess not.

Original battery/alternator lasts 4.5 years with 70k miles.

kelvinward01 · Mon, Dec-29-2008, 05:15:43 AM

If you don't replace your alternator quickly.. and take it a drive often..
your batteries will die soon..
alternator + battery = $$$$..

Tue, Dec-23-2008, 07:44:46 PM	#1
mlee4984 Slow M3 Driver Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,851 Reputation: 0 Location: NYC	Intermittent Battery Light Hi Guys, I have an intermittent battery light that comes on and off. Anyone know of a fix? It started to happen after I got my car back for it's subframe replacement. Thanks for any input. -Mike __________________ Current: 1997 Estoril Blau Metallic M3 Current: 2009 White Ducati 1198 Current: 1997 Black 240sx KOUKI STOCK Gone but not forgotten: 2005 Interlagos Blau Metallic M3 ZCP Gone but not forgotten: 2006 Smoky Granite Mica IS250 AWD Gone but not forgotten: 2005 Red Honda CBR 600RR

Tue, Dec-23-2008, 07:49:59 PM	#2
JeST Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 6,382 Reputation: 0 Location: Zoo York	Mike, you need a new alternator. No if and s or buts about it. It's intermittent now because the alternator can't keep up with the charge. Give it time and it'll die on you at the worse possible moment and will eventually kill/drain the battery. Get the alternator replaced. Then have your battery checked also. __________________ 1988 M3 - Henna/black on black alcantara 2012 Ducati 848 Evo Corse

Tue, Dec-23-2008, 08:13:51 PM	#4
cntrvrsy Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4,857 Reputation: 0 Location: NY	I 3rd that. I got caught out there twice . __________________ sig engineered by Fcukupayme

Tue, Dec-23-2008, 08:18:04 PM	#5
tilolite Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 613 Reputation: 0 Location: Port-au-Prince, Haiti	Keep a spare alternator in your trunk cause you gonna need one soon. __________________

Tue, Dec-23-2008, 10:39:22 PM	#7
druwainwright dru///m3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 121 Reputation: 0 Location: Belfast	I had to replace mine last week - £240. My radio was dying and the dash lights were going nuts! The new alternator sorted it. This seems to be a very very common problem. __________________ *2004 ///M3 - Silver - CSL Reps.* 2003 Audi A4 Avant S-Line (Daily Driver)

Tue, Dec-23-2008, 08:11:40 PM	#3
ryan24 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 124 Reputation: 0 Location: Los Angeles	I second that. Just replaced my alternator a few weeks ago after having the same problems.

Mon, Dec-29-2008, 05:10:53 AM	#9
Fat Albert Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 788 Reputation: 0 Location: the OC!	Guys, Get your battery/alternator checked when this happens. I had to get a tow truck last night because car died in the middle of driving. radio died first, dash board went crazy, headlight died, and then my car. All this happened within 40min since the battery light came on. I thought I could at least make it home, but guess not. Original battery/alternator lasts 4.5 years with 70k miles. __________________ 2004 Silver Gray - 6 speed suspension: TCKline D/A Coilovers, 550F/600R; TCKline Camber Plates; RSM performance: El Diablo Exhaust; Borla midpipe ; OEM18 X 4; Powerflex RTAB, 4.10 diff aesthetic: painted reflector; SPP 55W fog; Hardwired V1; 35% metalic tint; oem ipod adaptor; DPEO; CSL trunk; CSL diffuser

Mon, Dec-29-2008, 05:15:43 AM	#10
kelvinward01 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 344 Reputation: 0 Location: 1818 Dry Pine Bay Rd	If you don't replace your alternator quickly.. and take it a drive often.. your batteries will die soon.. alternator + battery = $$$$.. __________________ in small things you can do big wondrous things...

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