Charging system (battery) indicator light going on/off

[hawk45 10+ year member]

Battery light ("Charging System Indicator") came on in 99 Blazer. Checked manual and seems to say that this indicate a problem with the charging system. I recently installed my sub and amp about a week or so ago but just today the light came on. Is this an issue with the alternator not being strong enough? My amp is only like 320watts RMS.

UPDATED NOTE I FORGOT IN ORIGINAL POST:

Not sure if it helps to know that also on the way home the HU was going out.. then come back on.. then go out.. back on... I would pop the face plate off for about 5 mins then put back on... HU would work again for few mins then start shuting on/off again.

Thanks,

Hawk

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[Decipha 10+ year member]

most of the time the battery light comes on when the alternator isin't working

since your probably going to replace the alternator i'd recommend a HO alt

side note... i did an install in a 94 chevy astro with 2 alpine type s 10's (DVC 4)

i ran them at a 1 ohm load on a hifonics bd1500... i set the gain at 34 volts

equivalent to about (AROUND) 1100 watts, the subs only handle i think 300

each... they slam pretty hard for shiity little 10's but the amp took the alternator

out less than a week after the install.

its been almost 5 months since the install and them little crappers are still taking

the abuse like a biitch

 

[Raven 10+ year member]

Have you done the big three recently? If not, do so. It will help. If you have done the big three, test the voltage output of the alternator under a full load, it is possible that your alternator is fine and one of your big 3 wires is simply bypassing the idiot light sensor.

I just mention this because it happened to me after I did the big 3.

 

[Tirefryr 10+ year member]

AD230, I'm gonna take a stab and say the regulator is shot. Common problem. Generally, if the light comes on it's a regulator or rectifier(diode) problem.

 

[Tirefryr 10+ year member]

the amp took the alternatorout less than a week after the install.

Just an FYI, but it wasn't the amp that took the alt out.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif It was the amp that discharged the battery which in turn caused the alt to fail.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[hawk45 10+ year member]

Not sure if it helps to know that also on the way home the HU was going out.. then come back on.. then go out.. back on... I would pop the face plate off for about 5 mins then put back on... HU would work again for few mins then start shuting on/off again.

 

[Tirefryr 10+ year member]

Voltage problem. Have the charging system checked immediately.

 

[spitfirees20 10+ year member]

Maybe the subs found a weakness in your electrical system, in which case you need a new alt and possibly a new battery that you can get replaced before you're stranded on the side of the road somewhere, so it's a win win

 

[hawk45 10+ year member]

Voltage problem. Have the charging system checked immediately.

Who can do this? I have never heard of before...

 

[Tirefryr 10+ year member]

Any good service shop should have the proper equipment and know-how. Avoid taking it into Autozone or the likes. If you want to do a half-assed type check yourself real quick, bust out your multimeter, and check the voltage at the battery. Then fire the vehicle up and measure it at idle. Then turn on as many accessories as you can and take another voltage reading. You should be between 11.8 and 12.5V with the vehicle off, and between 13.5 and 14.9 volts with it running and with the accessories on. If you are below these voltages or above, you have a problem.

Like I said though, it's probably the reg. We replace them all the time. I'll check for any TSBs tomorrow. I believe GM did a recall on the alts already, but I may be wrong.

 

[hawk45 10+ year member]

Any good service shop should have the proper equipment and know-how. Avoid taking it into Autozone or the likes. If you want to do a half-assed type check yourself real quick, bust out your multimeter, and check the voltage at the battery. Then fire the vehicle up and measure it at idle. Then turn on as many accessories as you can and take another voltage reading. You should be between 11.8 and 12.5V with the vehicle off, and between 13.5 and 14.9 volts with it running and with the accessories on. If you are below these voltages or above, you have a problem.
Like I said though, it's probably the reg. We replace them all the time. I'll check for any TSBs tomorrow. I believe GM did a recall on the alts already, but I may be wrong.

Thanks man, I really appreciate the help.

John

 

[Tirefryr 10+ year member]

Np!

 

[hawk45 10+ year member]

Ok.. went out this morning and truck was dead. Jumped it and got it to turn over but engin was reving weird and could here all kinds of electircal things clicking on and off,lights dimming, etc.

BTW... this was after I unhooked the power cord from battery to amp.

I take it that I need to replace the alternator now..

 

[Tirefryr 10+ year member]

Could be any number of things. Like I said, take it somewhere and have it properly checked.

 

[hawk45 10+ year member]

I was going to try to swap out myself ....I just hate to pay someone $200 bucks for something I can do.. ya know.

Thanks,

Hawk