ocei77 Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 96 Legacy 2.2 Battery and brake light came and stays on. Battery does not charge Both alternator and battery are tested and good. Fuse is good. As soon as it gets light I'll look for a broken ground. What else should I be looking for? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 I helped a fellow fix something close to this. It turned out to be the main battery ground at the transmission to engine starter upper bolt attach point. It was loose, burned and pitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 alt is bad 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 How was the alt tested? Two wires that plug into the back of the alt need 12v on them for the alt to charge. Could also be poor block ground, or poor ground of the alternator case to the block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocei77 Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 (edited) I've checked the grounds and cleaned up a few. The battery was charged a few days before the real cold snap here. Checking now, the voltage is less than 12. So I am getting a new battery and will advise after I get it to the vehicle in question. The alt was taken to Advance Auto and tested. Thanks to all for their help. O. Edited January 4, 2018 by ocei77 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 When Advance checked the output of the alternator, was it about 14 amps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike104 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) When Advance checked the output of the alternator, was it about 14 amps? I think the tester at Advance is a Pass/Fail indication. I don't recall if it gives you an amp reading (it's been a while since I checked one there). A number of Brake/Battery lights have been defective diodes in the voltage regulator (internal to the alternator). Edited January 5, 2018 by Mike104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickytrus Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I would wait on a battery...... First,, do a simple test........ loosen positive battery terminal(with car off -- and make sure car was previously running) start car...... let Idle a minute or two or three... now while idling..... lift positive cable terminal off the battery post.......... Does it continue to run????? or does it stall.....????? If it continues to run........ then the alternator is providing enough power to run the vehicle..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 I would wait on a battery...... First,, do a simple test........ loosen positive battery terminal(with car off -- and make sure car was previously running) start car...... let Idle a minute or two or three... now while idling..... lift positive cable terminal off the battery post.......... Does it continue to run????? or does it stall.....????? If it continues to run........ then the alternator is providing enough power to run the vehicle..... That is just horrible advice. You should absolutely never do that on modern vehicles with computers. Especially if you suspect the alternator has a problem. Good way to blow $1500. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocei77 Posted January 6, 2018 Author Share Posted January 6, 2018 Resolved Made a rookie mistake. Took the alt off of another 96 I had and somehow mixed them up and brought the old one back. After deciding it had to be something I did, rechecked output and it was about 12 volts!!!! Finally got back to where the correct one was and swapped. At least I can feel my fingers again!!! FYI Advance Auto's testing does say past/fail, but it also gives an output amperage. O. . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike104 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Resolved Made a rookie mistake. Took the alt off of another 96 I had and somehow mixed them up and brought the old one back. After deciding it had to be something I did, rechecked output and it was about 12 volts!!!! Finally got back to where the correct one was and swapped. At least I can feel my fingers again!!! FYI Advance Auto's testing does say past/fail, but it also gives an output amperage. O. . When I worked there customer was generally interested in Pass/Fail. Fail meant we had to sell them an alternator ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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