Hey I'm a back yard mechanic, and over the years I've learned a lot as most of us have, this my friend was very helpful and on my own I don't believe that I would have figured this one out, wow... and thanks,UA-cam to the rescue again right? Thanks brother for sure. 😁👍
@@wilbroadmchama1959could be the battery light itself as current needs to flow through the bulb and back to the regulator on alternator for the battery to charge so if the bulb is blown then the circuit is open
@@tranquilityaphelion8144could be the battery light itself as current needs to flow through the bulb and back to the regulator on alternator for the battery to charge so if the bulb is blown then the circuit is open
Thanks, I knew I'd blown a fuse somewhere while chasing a no reverse cam fault.. Lost reverse lights, gear select lights, didn't notice missing engine lights, did notice wipers slowing down, thought maybe not charging on way to urgent Hosp repair, .. find no start in carpark, find your video, find fuse, got a jump start, saved me a lot of money and trouble.. Much Appreciated..
For anyone who is looking, I had no power to my instrument cluster, but I also had no power to my fuse panel inside the vehicle, it might surprise you but the car can start with just a charged battery and will run off the battery till it dies. Also surprising the car can start and run with the 100 AMP "ALT FUSE" blown. After replacing the 100 amp fuse my dash lit up and the car started AND the Alternator started to output 14.76 volts. My car: 1999 Toyota Solara.
@@julianayala03 the one connected to the terminal in the battery?! If so my car still doesn’t charge the battery is still intact the fuse. What else do you think it could be ?
YOU ARE A GENIUS. Have a 1997 F 150 and we changed alternator twice, battery. There was NOOOO battery light on, I checked the light fuse and it was burnt out. Changed fuse now THE ALTERNATOR IS CHARGING. THANKS
Thank you so much. I've learned more from shade tree mechanics than many trained mechanics. Trial n error and perseverance has taught me alot. Cant afford to pay dishonest mechanics shop rates either. God bless you.
It’s crazy how little info regarding that light is online. I’d like to add that if you change that light, make sure that the resistance is low enough, as high resistance can also prevent charging or cause the alternator to charge only at higher RPMs. I’m experiencing that firsthand with my bike.
Hey bud thanks a billion for the video! I bought the new alternator and replaced 2 batteries, it was that dawrn fuse unbelievable it totally disabled my Toyota sienna again thanks.
I was reading once that on some cars made after 2016, that bulb is an SMD device soldered to the instrument cluster circuit board and is nearly impossible to de-solder and re-solder to the board if you can even find a replacement at all. The cost of cluster can be as high as $1600, some manufacturers you cannot pull one from the junk yard as it would need to have the PCM flashed to match the VIN, the anti-theft systems, and mileage stored in the PCM. Some places, especially dealers won't even do a flash unless it's a new or factory reman cluster.
Yes, big concern of mine too. I already needlessly replaced the alternator and battery, and it took me a couple days to zero in on this battery light issue. I tend to believe the theory that a worn out battery LED dash indicator can cause this problem. Strangely enough, mine seems to work when it is cold, but not when it is hot. In other words, start the car when it is cold and drive it all you want, and the alternator voltage will be fine, in the 13 volt range. BUT, shut off the engine, just for a minute, and the battery light doesn't come back on unless you let it cool off for about 15 minutes. If the battery light isn't on before you try to start the car, the alternator field winding will not get electrically tickled, and the alternator will not generate any voltage after the engine is started. So, I pulled out that whole instrument cluster, where the suspect battery LED circuit resides.. I figured it would be socketed LEDs, but this was not true! It's all surface mounted LEDs, nothing easily replaceable. So I was thinking about buying a new instrument cluster from the junkyard. But, then the engine mileage on the display would likely be wrong, and, as you say, the ECU may not like the new instrument cluster without a dealer reprogramming. And, the dealer isn't going to want to program a used instrument cluster. So now I am really stuck. I think you're looking at a couple thousand $$$ to get a new instrument cluster from the dealer. There must be some simple workaround to tickle that alternator "L" terminal at startup without having to buy a new instrument cluster.
Amazing! Thanks for the insight. Who would have thought that a burnt-out light/bad fuse could cause such expense and misery? (The misery of dealing with a dead battery in the middle of the night - anywhere; and the expense of replacing perfectly good, expensive parts.)
They like you to buy new cars not fix uo your owned cars. So they take some drugs and figutmre out how best to wreck your life and waste your money .. Lose your job. They have no mercy .they will deceive every tine they can . they didn't have to make it like this. They could have done different Fight back never buy a buy a new car.
This helped me. It was the bulb holy crap. Changed my Alternator 2x and battery(sometimes a bad Alternator can over charge a battery and it needed to be re[laced anyways . Just hit 450 000 miles on an old 04 Toyota Sienna
So you replaced the battery indicator LED bulb on the dashboard and then your alternator started charging again???? What kind of new bulb did you put in there, and how much work was it to get the instrument panel out to replace the bulb?
If you replace the alternator filament warning light with a LED lamp the alternator will not work. You must use a filament lamp, it draws a heavier current. Or throw out the alternator and replace it with one that has a lamp warning only method of operation.
Thanks, I removed instrument cluster and bulb is perfectly fine. Need some additional tools and updated schematics of the cluster before proceeding. Very Interesting problem.
Not that simple bud. Check reading at alternator first. If its above 14v your alternator is doing its job. If its not 14v at battery it might be a loose cable or bad ground.
as we speak my gf 98 nissan frontier went from low charge to no charge,today i did all the basics/voltage drop tests and found one wire on the 2 pin plug is barely lighting the test light while the other lights it up bright so i tried a slightly larger bulb for the test light and it wont light it up...this was all i found and i was racking my brain on if the dash light wire could prevent charging and ive found many videos of this being the issue...if it cant even light up my test light then i doubt it has enough current to do its job.thanks for the help. from here i will hook my testlight to battery positive and touch it too the plug on the alternator simulating the dash bulb thus telling the alternator to charge up.
I have 2010 civic 1.8.i been replaced alternator in less that a year. The light in the dashboard is fine, fuses are ok.my last choise could be the tensioner.what do you recommend me?
Very long story short. My light isn't coming on when IGN turned to "ON" position. I looked at schematics today and wondered if bulb is out, would alternator not turn on? Then I saw your video. I will check IGN fuse and if good, proceed to the light issue. As of now, My BATT+ voltage with car running is 12.3V, NO ALTERNATOR., yet the alternator is new. Your video makes me feel like I am on the right track.
@@NOBOX7 is this only the case with the battery indicator light? I’m having same issue with new alternator not charging new battery. Alt fuse looks good. There is one light out on my cluster but it’s the backlight bulb on far right.
Thanks for Video!!! have issue.....battery light came on, alternator lost charge...replaced alternator, light disappeared..replaced battery checked all fuses good. Still not charging...With key ON, no battery light, 11.8 volts at alternator for light circuit.. ground out wire and the dash light comes on( lights works) but still no charging..thinking possible faulty new alt....all signal wires to alt have 12volts. checked power/grounds on alt casing is all good
Is that an Avalon? I have an 03 Avalon with flickering lights that are driving me nuts..new alternator,new battery any ideas what could be? Especially bad on cold night startups
You ate correct. I knew that at one time but I'm old and losing it now but you are right . it is a rather complex circuit. It has one wire from 12 volts plus or positive to the light from the car. And the other wire is from the alternator. The alternator grounds out its end of that wire when ignition is switched on lighting the dash indicator. Then once started that wire becomes hot with 12 volts plus or positive too. But a light fed with two positives doesn't light up. It takes one positive and one negative to light a light bulb. So if alternator fails ti give the positive , like when broken. Then it makes that wire negative and the light comes on... Indicating a failed system soon to leave you stranded so drive quickly to safety and shu it off. But that is for self regulating alternators. Not certain if its still that way on the newer computer controlled alternators.
Hey, can you explain how this can possibly happen to a newer vehicle like a 2020 Altima or civic? Autozone says it’s an alternator but other place says it’s a battery issue
@NOBOX7 d00d - can you answer his question? I'm curious too. You jump from a simple filament light behind the gauge cluster preventing alternator from charging to the ignition ECU fuse as a way to fix and confusing every body. The answer is these are 2 completely unrelated checks that can be done to diagnose non charging alternator. But you can simply respond to his question by saying: "I replaced both the light behind the dashboard and the fuse. +They are both separate issues and not related. As for the original post - the fuse box wouldnt contain a single fuse for a simple dashboard warning light. The fuse box would have a single fuse for the entirety of dashboard lights.
Having the same issue with my 2010 Honda Accord I took it to a mechanic and supposedly he checked everything the wiring & fuses couldn't find nothing still in a hole . Do you think this will be the same problem for my Honda ?
my alternator light comes on when it feels like it, its that darn fuse ...why did my OBD not pick that up? i wonder if a $600 OBD would either ... i always wanted one of those ...
yes but does your dash light work ? if your battery light doesnt come on when you turn on the car the alternater isnt geting a exciter voltage , that bulb goes out and the alternator doest work
I have a 2012 Camry and got a reman denso alt because my other alternator regulator went out but I still haven’t checked the fuse but I highly doubt it’s a fuse but even if it is, mine is a 5amp ECU fuse as well so should I change it to a 10amp even if the five amp is working?
Nikko Pinto yeah I figured that after but even right now I’m still testing and so far so good. It’s just the “CLOCK SPRING” has so much wiring and just so much going on. I think that is where my issue is. I had a full electrical test done and all they told me was “bad communications” but DONT know where. Also said they would check the clock spring and all the harnesses and what not but they didn’t. So far it’s been acting normal and I’ve just don’t so much that my car feels new again lol trying to figure this out. I think I did but the clock spring for my car is really only sold from Toyota and it’s over $600 lol so let’s hope not
I have a 2003 Camry and in 2019 the alternator failed several days later and after a very rainy episode as my wife was driving the car to and from work some thirty minutes each way. After few months I put in a remanufactured alternator and it worked, but only lasted for only 5 months, after that the alternator never charge the battery again even after I already returned that alternator under warranty and got a different one and installed in the car. I bought various alternators with high output but eventually returned them all because nothing I installed really giving me the workable solution. Well, the car is a serious handicap: I bought three extra batteries and charged them externally and swapped them out almost every other day in order to operate the car. I can go around here and within an hour distance, while I must carry a spare and charged up battery in the trunk. Of course, I am not giving it up yet and study various related topic here in UA-cam. Later, I checked all the fuses already, but not really helped yet. I just learned about the the Electrical Load Detector (ELD) so much, including bypassing the detector by using a 'shunt resistor' to avoid the haphazard 'detection' pattern due to either good/bad ELD at certain undesirable time in some older Honda cars, and now I am going to learn more on the Toyota cars' battery charging problems.
@@Noshameingame Yes, I also thought in that way. But, I rather not going back to use a 5 amp fuse, I would use the 7.5 amp for some increased operating current. Here is why, Power = voltage X current, (P = V * I) but power = (current)^2 * resistance . (P = I^2 * R) Also, P = V^2 / R in some formula derivations. So, one do not want to double any current rating in fuse rating as it is going to magnify by 4 X in power rating. What a nightmare in owning an older car!
@@nanymitert5447 is the vehicle missing any of the splash guards underneath the motor or inside the fender? rain will kill anything running on the serpentine belt if water sprays underneath there. I had my ac compressor and alternator pulley fail on a car before I realized they were getting wet.
I’m having somewhat similar issue. 2000 Solara new batteries(3) and new alternator (confirmed good) not charging battery. Battery light comes on when first starting car but not on when battery is going dead. No warning light comes on. Could this be related to exciter coil?
ok but how does one change the exciter circuit or which fuse to get it to work. single mom looking on youtube for answers. I just bought a new alternator and got it put in but when i started my car all my dashboard lights went out and head and rear lights and when i come to a stop my car dies.
I was wondering the same thing! So now I’m questioning wether I need to look at my interior fuses beneath my steering column, although my alt fuse is blown and I just installed a new alt **palms face**
Hey my alt. stopped charging but I can rev it up to 4000 rpm and it charges untill i shut it off . Anything I can do besids buy a new alt ? 2003 Toyota Sequoia 4.7
burnt out light bulb in your dash board will cause this as well , if the light dont go on when you start the car its burnt out , the battery or alt light , that bulb excites the field winding of the alternator when you start your car so yes a burnt out ligh bulb can leave you stranded
@@NOBOX7 my brother am sick and suffering and changed alternator changed battery twice and still my car dies immediately what can i do it doesn't last 30 minutes yeah the battery volts drop from 17 v to 9 and the car shuts off did everything i can spent 200 on alternator and spent 120 on battery and spent 300 on mechanic my car is at the parking lot for 4 months am walking and suffering meeting from one mechanic to another
What the hell are the chances? I'm fixing a friends Cadillac. Got new alternator. Installed it. Ran a bit. Not charging. No battery light, as you say, but thing is, old alternator tested bad. What are the chances that this recently running car has two separate issues simultaneously? I was thinking the alternator was bad out the box. Or maybe the bad alternator burned the bulb somehow?
Hi there. I live in stream cold weather where it's snows. My truck wouldn't turn on. And lights would go on but when i tried to turn on the key completely it just clicks. Next day i tried to charge it with a charger then all lights went out and even the dashboard lights.
new battery, alternator, fuses ok. start charging around 13.67 full load, then it start lowering to 12.97 car is accelerated during test. any ideas? thanks 2002 v6 solara
check your exciter wire connections ,12.9 volts is battery voltage or voltage under high current load this tells me the alternater is not charging you should see 14 volts all day
My alternator was repaired, I drove for a few days and everything was fine, today I turn my car on and the battery light on the dashboard isn't showing. When I jump start the car it turns on but the voltage keeps dropping on the battery. What should I do? I'm thinking of replacing the battery and the alternator but what if I do and that doesn't fix it?
So I'm abit confused get it, fuse 🤣 so wht do you mean by, when you turn on the car power, and all the dash board lights show, if the battery light flashes it means your battery light is burnt out ???
I am facing the same problem ,battery changed but still alternator not charging battery.when switch is on battery light is there on the dash...is my alternator ok?
2000 nisan sentra 2.0 NEW ALTINATOR new battery checkj engn and batt light wont come 0n checked all fuses.the tester lights up were the bulbs go swiched door warning light with the chck engn light the door warning did not work but the checkj engn light worked in the door warning ligts socjket. teted the plug on te altrinator one side bright lite the other a faint flicker . when firstinstalled the new altinator it was chargin g 14.somthing.drove it a couple blocks lights on car dies stop charging jumped car batt chk eng light were comming on likew normal when you start car this happened 2 times in8rs altinator benched test good batt good now back to square one no batt light when you turn key on same with check eng bulbs are good im baffewled aNY SUGGESTIONS ?
If your battery light is burnt out the alternator will not get current to the exciter coil and i you die stranded in the desert because a bunch of idiots thought it would be ok to have your care riding on a thin piece of tungsten light bulb . For some reason if your alternator light or battery light in some cases goes out the alternator will not charge . There is also a fuse in the engine bay. You may also have bad ground or faulty harness
i have the same . altenator not charge. new battery on renault clio iv model 2015 dci 1600 cm. i pray to be the fuse. a new altenator cost about 400 dol. plus the work
My car has the same problem , while driving it , it just won't start anymore so i took it to the mechanic and he took the alternator out and tells me that the alternator is burnt out , so now my car is without the alternator Can you please advise me on what to do , cause i need my car for daily use ,thanks
Hi, my name is Xay, i live in Charlotte NC i has a 2000 Avalon with the same problem. "the alternator won't charge battery and I did just like you said on this video, I did bought a new battery and the alternator and it still not Charging, Any idea? Please help me. Thanks Sir!
Sir there is also a fuse an inline fuse on an alternater some times , also there is an exciter voltage issue at times , if you get no volts from alternator you may have exciter wire fuse that is blown , its an inline fuse on a wire that is very hard to find . Or search for other fuses in your engine bay , it is comen to have hidded fuses and even a relay could blow check your chargind relay
I’m having the same exact problem with my 2014 Buick Enclave. No one seems to know what’s going on. I bought a new alternator and battery. Still not turning on.
This is happening to my 2002 Nissan Sentra. But the bulb is not out. It flickers when the car first starts in the morning then nothing after that. But the alternator won't charge the battery.
I have a 2004 Honda Civic and it’s battery isn’t working for me. We’ve changed the alternator several times, the battery is good because we’ve checked it in other cars, and still no luck getting that alternator to charge. My battery light does not come on when the switch it turned though. We’ve checked the wires and the fuss box, all good as well. After watching this video we’re going to replace the cluster and hope that works.
If the battery light in your dash board burns out your alternator exciter coil will not engage. Stupid i know but some engineer decided your life should be in the hands of a single light bulb
Turn on the car with a fresh battery and see if the battery light lightsup . all lights light up on ignition so you can see if they work , thats why it deos that its a systems test
@@Xandro_B20 ended up being an electrical issue! A rodent had gotten into one of the wires and that was the entire issue, once I replaced the wire my car has been good as new! Thank you for asking!
Dashboard battery light , if that light burns out your exciter current to the alternator never initiates the magnetism to get your brand new alternator working
Perhaps your ignition switch has failed my friend , this could also be an inline fuse but i havent seen an inline fuse for a long time , tcheck the small wires for a fuse
Look in your manual for all the fuses . How many volts do you have when the car is running ? ids the light bulb in the battery signal burnt out ? does the battery light come on hen you turn on the key ?
ATTENTION : If the battery light on your dash board does not turn on for a couple seconds when you start the car your alternator will not charge the battery . Yes your car engineers are that stupid . They thought it would be cool to cling your safety and well being to a small Chinese light bulb that causes the entire car to fail if it goes out. also THE FUSE FOR THIS BULB WILL DO THE SAME
What if my battery light stays lit? Replaced alternator. Charged up battery.. doesn’t seem to be registering car temperature either. Will this be a fuse issue possibly?
Car started drove it down the street, the battery light stayed lit. Then the car died and wouldn’t start again. Brand new alternator charged battery... I’m hoping this is just a fuse any suggestions? 2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5rs
Hey I'm a back yard mechanic, and over the years I've learned a lot as most of us have, this my friend was very helpful and on my own I don't believe that I would have figured this one out, wow... and thanks,UA-cam to the rescue again right? Thanks brother for sure. 😁👍
My car there is no battery on dashboard its disappear but still it's not charging what would be the problem
@@wilbroadmchama1959 what was your fix?
@@wilbroadmchama1959could be the battery light itself as current needs to flow through the bulb and back to the regulator on alternator for the battery to charge so if the bulb is blown then the circuit is open
@@tranquilityaphelion8144could be the battery light itself as current needs to flow through the bulb and back to the regulator on alternator for the battery to charge so if the bulb is blown then the circuit is open
Thanks, I knew I'd blown a fuse somewhere while chasing a no reverse cam fault.. Lost reverse lights, gear select lights, didn't notice missing engine lights, did notice wipers slowing down, thought maybe not charging on way to urgent Hosp repair, .. find no start in carpark, find your video, find fuse, got a jump start, saved me a lot of money and trouble.. Much Appreciated..
For anyone who is looking, I had no power to my instrument cluster, but I also had no power to my fuse panel inside the vehicle, it might surprise you but the car can start with just a charged battery and will run off the battery till it dies. Also surprising the car can start and run with the 100 AMP "ALT FUSE" blown. After replacing the 100 amp fuse my dash lit up and the car started AND the Alternator started to output 14.76 volts. My car: 1999 Toyota Solara.
Where is it located in the hood or under dash?
@@thefaith6891 the 100 amp ALT fuse is under the hood, and it has to be “ bolted “ in, it’s not just a simple pull fuse.
@@julianayala03 the one connected to the terminal in the battery?! If so my car still doesn’t charge the battery is still intact the fuse. What else do you think it could be ?
@@thefaith6891 I’m not sure, It would be better if I could see pictures.
@@thefaith6891I hate to ask you for an email. But if there was a way I can send you pictures.
YOU ARE A GENIUS. Have a 1997 F 150 and we changed alternator twice, battery. There was NOOOO battery light on, I checked the light fuse and it was burnt out. Changed fuse now THE ALTERNATOR IS CHARGING.
THANKS
Thank you so much. I've learned more from shade tree mechanics than many trained mechanics. Trial n error and perseverance has taught me alot. Cant afford to pay dishonest mechanics shop rates either. God bless you.
It’s crazy how little info regarding that light is online. I’d like to add that if you change that light, make sure that the resistance is low enough, as high resistance can also prevent charging or cause the alternator to charge only at higher RPMs. I’m experiencing that firsthand with my bike.
What did you find issue
Hey bud thanks a billion for the video! I bought the new alternator and replaced 2 batteries, it was that dawrn fuse unbelievable it totally disabled my Toyota sienna again thanks.
I was reading once that on some cars made after 2016, that bulb is an SMD device soldered to the instrument cluster circuit board and is nearly impossible to de-solder and re-solder to the board if you can even find a replacement at all. The cost of cluster can be as high as $1600, some manufacturers you cannot pull one from the junk yard as it would need to have the PCM flashed to match the VIN, the anti-theft systems, and mileage stored in the PCM. Some places, especially dealers won't even do a flash unless it's a new or factory reman cluster.
Yes, big concern of mine too. I already needlessly replaced the alternator and battery, and it took me a couple days to zero in on this battery light issue. I tend to believe the theory that a worn out battery LED dash indicator can cause this problem. Strangely enough, mine seems to work when it is cold, but not when it is hot. In other words, start the car when it is cold and drive it all you want, and the alternator voltage will be fine, in the 13 volt range. BUT, shut off the engine, just for a minute, and the battery light doesn't come back on unless you let it cool off for about 15 minutes. If the battery light isn't on before you try to start the car, the alternator field winding will not get electrically tickled, and the alternator will not generate any voltage after the engine is started. So, I pulled out that whole instrument cluster, where the suspect battery LED circuit resides.. I figured it would be socketed LEDs, but this was not true! It's all surface mounted LEDs, nothing easily replaceable. So I was thinking about buying a new instrument cluster from the junkyard. But, then the engine mileage on the display would likely be wrong, and, as you say, the ECU may not like the new instrument cluster without a dealer reprogramming. And, the dealer isn't going to want to program a used instrument cluster. So now I am really stuck. I think you're looking at a couple thousand $$$ to get a new instrument cluster from the dealer. There must be some simple workaround to tickle that alternator "L" terminal at startup without having to buy a new instrument cluster.
Makes a 64 mercury comet an even better buy.
You literally brought back my sanity, Holy shit! Thank you!
Chasing electrical gremlins in today's vehicles can be a nightmare! Good catch on this!
🤣🤣 if I could enlist those gremlins to help with mine I would!
@@kodysleeves1267 ( = :
Amazing! Thanks for the insight. Who would have thought that a burnt-out light/bad fuse could cause such expense and misery? (The misery of dealing with a dead battery in the middle of the night - anywhere; and the expense of replacing perfectly good, expensive parts.)
Yes a dead light in your dashboard can cause the alternator field winding to die in some cases
They like you to buy new cars not fix uo your owned cars. So they take some drugs and figutmre out how best to wreck your life and waste your money .. Lose your job. They have no mercy .they will deceive every tine they can . they didn't have to make it like this. They could have done different Fight back never buy a buy a new car.
This helped me. It was the bulb holy crap. Changed my Alternator 2x and battery(sometimes a bad Alternator can over charge a battery and it needed to be re[laced anyways . Just hit 450 000 miles on an old 04 Toyota Sienna
So you replaced the battery indicator LED bulb on the dashboard and then your alternator started charging again???? What kind of new bulb did you put in there, and how much work was it to get the instrument panel out to replace the bulb?
If you replace the alternator filament warning light with a LED lamp the alternator will not work. You must use a filament lamp, it draws a heavier current. Or throw out the alternator and replace it with one that has a lamp warning only method of operation.
Thanks, I removed instrument cluster and bulb is perfectly fine. Need some additional tools and updated schematics of the cluster before proceeding. Very Interesting problem.
inline fuse on alternator wire thats hidden in secret place>?
Thanks for the video. Very helpful and accurate. Yesterday I had to be towed home
glad i could help you.
That’s seriously bad
@@NOBOX7 2j8 e uke
Awesome video man! This fixed my problem in a 2012 Toyota matrix
Thats the case with 90s box body fords as well. Sometimes you have to replace the whole cluster.
Battery should read 12.6V plus when standing. When running should see around 14V if not then the alternator is screwed it's that simple.
Not that simple bud. Check reading at alternator first. If its above 14v your alternator is doing its job. If its not 14v at battery it might be a loose cable or bad ground.
Not even experienced mechanics knows that. Thanks.
Thank you very much for the INFO
as we speak my gf 98 nissan frontier went from low charge to no charge,today i did all the basics/voltage drop tests and found one wire on the 2 pin plug is barely lighting the test light while the other lights it up bright so i tried a slightly larger bulb for the test light and it wont light it up...this was all i found and i was racking my brain on if the dash light wire could prevent charging and ive found many videos of this being the issue...if it cant even light up my test light then i doubt it has enough current to do its job.thanks for the help.
from here i will hook my testlight to battery positive and touch it too the plug on the alternator simulating the dash bulb thus telling the alternator to charge up.
I have 2010 civic 1.8.i been replaced alternator in less that a year. The light in the dashboard is fine, fuses are ok.my last choise could be the tensioner.what do you recommend me?
Glad I learned something.. but damn. Just bought a new alternator today plus install for nothing
Very long story short. My light isn't coming on when IGN turned to "ON" position. I looked at schematics today and wondered if bulb is out, would alternator not turn on? Then I saw your video. I will check IGN fuse and if good, proceed to the light issue. As of now, My BATT+ voltage with car running is 12.3V, NO ALTERNATOR., yet the alternator is new. Your video makes me feel like I am on the right track.
Yes a burnt out light bulb stops the field winding on the alternator from working
@@NOBOX7 is this only the case with the battery indicator light? I’m having same issue with new alternator not charging new battery. Alt fuse looks good. There is one light out on my cluster but it’s the backlight bulb on far right.
Thanks for Video!!! have issue.....battery light came on, alternator lost charge...replaced alternator, light disappeared..replaced battery checked all fuses good. Still not charging...With key ON, no battery light, 11.8 volts at alternator for light circuit.. ground out wire and the dash light comes on( lights works) but still no charging..thinking possible faulty new alt....all signal wires to alt have 12volts. checked power/grounds on alt casing is all good
you must have 14 volts or something is wrong , with car off it should be 12.7 to 13
Is that an Avalon? I have an 03 Avalon with flickering lights that are driving me nuts..new alternator,new battery any ideas what could be? Especially bad on cold night startups
What fuse must change
Thanks. Will check the fuse and report.
You ate correct. I knew that at one time but I'm old and losing it now but you are right . it is a rather complex circuit. It has one wire from 12 volts plus or positive to the light from the car. And the other wire is from the alternator. The alternator grounds out its end of that wire when ignition is switched on lighting the dash indicator. Then once started that wire becomes hot with 12 volts plus or positive too. But a light fed with two positives doesn't light up. It takes one positive and one negative to light a light bulb. So if alternator fails ti give the positive , like when broken. Then it makes that wire negative and the light comes on... Indicating a failed system soon to leave you stranded so drive quickly to safety and shu it off. But that is for self regulating alternators. Not certain if its still that way on the newer computer controlled alternators.
Hey, can you explain how this can possibly happen to a newer vehicle like a 2020 Altima or civic? Autozone says it’s an alternator but other place says it’s a battery issue
So you replace the fuze for the dashboard battery indicator light that isn't working, not the light in the dashboard itself, right?
If the light is burnt out the field winding wont work on he alternator
@NOBOX7 d00d - can you answer his question? I'm curious too. You jump from a simple filament light behind the gauge cluster preventing alternator from charging to the ignition ECU fuse as a way to fix and confusing every body.
The answer is these are 2 completely unrelated checks that can be done to diagnose non charging alternator.
But you can simply respond to his question by saying: "I replaced both the light behind the dashboard and the fuse. +They are both separate issues and not related.
As for the original post - the fuse box wouldnt contain a single fuse for a simple dashboard warning light. The fuse box would have a single fuse for the entirety of dashboard lights.
Which fuse
after market volt meters are god sent to any car
Having the same issue with my 2010 Honda Accord I took it to a mechanic and supposedly he checked everything the wiring & fuses couldn't find nothing still in a hole . Do you think this will be the same problem for my Honda ?
my alternator light comes on when it feels like it, its that darn fuse ...why did my OBD not pick that up? i wonder if a $600 OBD would either ... i always wanted one of those ...
Thanks very much I'm going threw this problem
Hi do BCM fuses control alternator output as well ? Issue is on 2013 Cadillac ATS 3.6 AWD
yes but does your dash light work ? if your battery light doesnt come on when you turn on the car the alternater isnt geting a exciter voltage , that bulb goes out and the alternator doest work
I have a 2012 Camry and got a reman denso alt because my other alternator regulator went out but I still haven’t checked the fuse but I highly doubt it’s a fuse but even if it is, mine is a 5amp ECU fuse as well so should I change it to a 10amp even if the five amp is working?
I think he was saying he shouldn’t have put that 10amp fuse in because that’s what stopped it , and that he needs to put his 5amp fuse back
Nikko Pinto yeah I figured that after but even right now I’m still testing and so far so good. It’s just the “CLOCK SPRING” has so much wiring and just so much going on. I think that is where my issue is. I had a full electrical test done and all they told me was “bad communications” but DONT know where. Also said they would check the clock spring and all the harnesses and what not but they didn’t. So far it’s been acting normal and I’ve just don’t so much that my car feels new again lol trying to figure this out. I think I did but the clock spring for my car is really only sold from Toyota and it’s over $600 lol so let’s hope not
I have a 2003 Camry and in 2019 the alternator failed several days later and after a very rainy episode as my wife was driving the car to and from work some thirty minutes each way. After few months I put in a remanufactured alternator and it worked, but only lasted for only 5 months, after that the alternator never charge the battery again even after I already returned that alternator under warranty and got a different one and installed in the car. I bought various alternators with high output but eventually returned them all because nothing I installed really giving me the workable solution.
Well, the car is a serious handicap: I bought three extra batteries and charged them externally and swapped them out almost every other day in order to operate the car. I can go around here and within an hour distance, while I must carry a spare and charged up battery in the trunk. Of course, I am not giving it up yet and study various related topic here in UA-cam. Later, I checked all the fuses already, but not really helped yet. I just learned about the the Electrical Load Detector (ELD) so much, including bypassing the detector by using a 'shunt resistor' to avoid the haphazard 'detection' pattern due to either good/bad ELD at certain undesirable time in some older Honda cars, and now I am going to learn more on the Toyota cars' battery charging problems.
@@Noshameingame Yes, I also thought in that way. But, I rather not going back to use a 5 amp fuse, I would use the 7.5 amp for some increased operating current. Here is why, Power = voltage X current,
(P = V * I)
but power = (current)^2 * resistance .
(P = I^2 * R)
Also, P = V^2 / R
in some formula derivations. So, one do not want to double any current rating in fuse rating as it is going to magnify by 4 X in power rating. What a nightmare in owning an older car!
@@nanymitert5447 is the vehicle missing any of the splash guards underneath the motor or inside the fender? rain will kill anything running on the serpentine belt if water sprays underneath there. I had my ac compressor and alternator pulley fail on a car before I realized they were getting wet.
What fuse was that ? I replaced the alternator and it worked .... not enough info on the fuse or usable link... battery still not charging .
Thanks for the heads up 👍🏾👍🏾💥💥
I thought the alternator fuse was under the hood in that fuse box.
Hi, are you saying. I just need replace the bulbs on the cluster to make the alternator charge the battery? Thanks
yes its in series with the exciter voltage , no exciter voltage no alternator current
where's on the 2009 Sedona? Is it the same 175A?
engine bay
Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge.
Whats the function of SUB BATT ralay sir in toyota tundra 2008 plz
Is this true for a 2012 VW Passat as well?
I’m having somewhat similar issue. 2000 Solara new batteries(3) and new alternator (confirmed good) not charging battery. Battery light comes on when first starting car but not on when battery is going dead. No warning light comes on. Could this be related to exciter coil?
voltage regulator or some other fuse is blown , your not getting charge
ok but how does one change the exciter circuit or which fuse to get it to work. single mom looking on youtube for answers. I just bought a new alternator and got it put in but when i started my car all my dashboard lights went out and head and rear lights and when i come to a stop my car dies.
It sounds like a fuse blew , maybe even a main fuse .
What fuse are we talking about here? Why the interior fuse box, which doesn't have alternator fuse, has something to do with the alternator?
I was wondering the same thing! So now I’m questioning wether I need to look at my interior fuses beneath my steering column, although my alt fuse is blown and I just installed a new alt **palms face**
I checked it on my Corolla 2006 fuse is good but when I turn the key to on position battery light when come on.
it looks like my problems thanks
Hey my alt. stopped charging but I can rev it up to 4000 rpm and it charges untill i shut it off . Anything I can do besids buy a new alt ? 2003 Toyota Sequoia 4.7
Did you ever fix this problem?
Soo say one has multiple fuses that are larger then they are supposed to be. Can that cause the alternator to not charge?
burnt out light bulb in your dash board will cause this as well , if the light dont go on when you start the car its burnt out , the battery or alt light , that bulb excites the field winding of the alternator when you start your car so yes a burnt out ligh bulb can leave you stranded
@@NOBOX7 my brother am sick and suffering and changed alternator changed battery twice and still my car dies immediately what can i do it doesn't last 30 minutes yeah the battery volts drop from 17 v to 9 and the car shuts off did everything i can spent 200 on alternator and spent 120 on battery and spent 300 on mechanic my car is at the parking lot for 4 months am walking and suffering meeting from one mechanic to another
Just like the human body sometimes it's complicated to diagnose some issue.
I have watched this video too late 🥺 i have buy an new alernator. But all what i needed was a fuse 😅😅
I believe this might help me
I sure hope so
This is such a good tip
What the hell are the chances? I'm fixing a friends Cadillac. Got new alternator. Installed it. Ran a bit. Not charging. No battery light, as you say, but thing is, old alternator tested bad. What are the chances that this recently running car has two separate issues simultaneously? I was thinking the alternator was bad out the box. Or maybe the bad alternator burned the bulb somehow?
no battery light and the alternator wont excite , so if the bulb is dead your car is dead
@@NOBOX7 can I run a diode and power from the fuse box to the exciter wire to get it to run until I have time to pull the dash apart?
So what causes the battery bulb to go out and how u fixed that ?? By just replacing the bulb ??
not sure on bulb but some cars will die if bulb dies
@@NOBOX7 THATS CONCLUSIVE TO BE TELLING PPL THAT IM SURE IT WOULD SELDOM BE A BULB CAUSING THAT
Hi there. I live in stream cold weather where it's snows. My truck wouldn't turn on. And lights would go on but when i tried to turn on the key completely it just clicks. Next day i tried to charge it with a charger then all lights went out and even the dashboard lights.
You may have hooked it up backwards , try again if lights dont go on when charger is on you have a blown fuse
@@NOBOX7 I hooked up the bactery charger cables. And the lights came on. Thank you so much for taking time to respond me. Your so kind. 😊
You are a lifesaver
So if I don’t even have a gauge cluster in my Honda my battery won’t charge?
Thank you 😊
new battery, alternator, fuses ok. start charging around 13.67 full load, then it start lowering to 12.97 car is accelerated during test. any ideas? thanks 2002 v6 solara
your loosing field current if it goes below 13 volts you have a short or something , you should be at 14 volts
check your exciter wire connections ,12.9 volts is battery voltage or voltage under high current load this tells me the alternater is not charging you should see 14 volts all day
Where like the actual video of the removal got a 92 sc400 it's not just a pull out and plug in thing
My alternator was repaired, I drove for a few days and everything was fine, today I turn my car on and the battery light on the dashboard isn't showing. When I jump start the car it turns on but the voltage keeps dropping on the battery. What should I do? I'm thinking of replacing the battery and the alternator but what if I do and that doesn't fix it?
the battery lite needs replaced , its in series with the exciter coil
So I'm abit confused get it, fuse 🤣
so wht do you mean by, when you turn on the car power, and all the dash board lights show, if the battery light flashes it means your battery light is burnt out ???
time stamp ?
I am facing the same problem ,battery changed but still alternator not charging battery.when switch is on battery light is there on the dash...is my alternator ok?
you need a voltmeter , see if your getting 14 volts
Hey brotha I changed my alternator and battery along with terminals but my 120 fuse keeps blowing .... any advice
you have a massive short , you starter fried ?
a bare wire is touching the frame or something or your starter is fried .
I believe my starter is ok but no guarantee , believe it may be a ground but can’t find it
Please explain clearly what you mean by "burns out", do you mean "turn off"?
I always have them checked where I purchase parts and ask why they failed testing first to make sure. Just in case I’m wrong 🙂
Can you test the fuse before all that work, like you can the others in the fuse box with a meter? Tia
Just replace it with a new one. You should allways have spares in the car enyways.
DOES MY HONDA ODDYSEY PRESTIGE 2000 HAVE TO BE RUNNING FROM A 14 v BATTERY OR CAN IT RUN ON A 12 v 500 a
if your not getting 14 volts with the engine reved up your alternater is shot ,if your battery is 12 volts its dead
2000 nisan sentra 2.0 NEW ALTINATOR new battery checkj engn and batt light wont come 0n checked all fuses.the tester lights up were the bulbs go swiched door warning light with the chck engn light the door warning did not work but the checkj engn light worked in the door warning ligts socjket. teted the plug on te altrinator one side bright lite the other a faint flicker . when firstinstalled the new altinator it was chargin g 14.somthing.drove it a couple blocks lights on car dies stop charging jumped car batt chk eng light were comming on likew normal when you start car this happened 2 times in8rs altinator benched test good batt good now back to square one no batt light when you turn key on same with check eng bulbs are good im baffewled aNY SUGGESTIONS ?
If your battery light is burnt out the alternator will not get current to the exciter coil and i you die stranded in the desert because a bunch of idiots thought it would be ok to have your care riding on a thin piece of tungsten light bulb . For some reason if your alternator light or battery light in some cases goes out the alternator will not charge . There is also a fuse in the engine bay.
You may also have bad ground or faulty harness
i have the same . altenator not charge. new battery on renault clio iv model 2015 dci 1600 cm. i pray to be the fuse. a new altenator cost about 400 dol. plus the work
My car has the same problem , while driving it , it just won't start anymore so i took it to the mechanic and he took the alternator out and tells me that the alternator is burnt out , so now my car is without the alternator
Can you please advise me on what to do , cause i need my car for daily use ,thanks
You can go to a junk yard and get a cheap one
Hi, my name is Xay, i live in Charlotte NC i has a 2000 Avalon with the same problem. "the alternator won't charge battery and I did just like you said on this video, I did bought a new battery and the alternator and it still not Charging, Any idea? Please help me. Thanks Sir!
Sir there is also a fuse an inline fuse on an alternater some times , also there is an exciter voltage issue at times , if you get no volts from alternator you may have exciter wire fuse that is blown , its an inline fuse on a wire that is very hard to find .
Or search for other fuses in your engine bay , it is comen to have hidded fuses and even a relay could blow check your chargind relay
Did you ever find the problem? My car is having same exact issue.
I’m having the same exact problem with my 2014 Buick Enclave. No one seems to know what’s going on. I bought a new alternator and battery. Still not turning on.
What was it?
Did you ever resolve the problem? What was the cause?
Ive change my battery, changed my alternator, and wont charged, my battery light is showing?? Any other ideas , horrendous
your ignition may be faulty
@@NOBOX7 even if the car starts When theres enough charge in battery ? Cause when it has juice it starts first time.
@@d4ngerous4exactly
I have an 07 Infiniti g35 does anyone know what the fuse name would be?
This is happening to my 2002 Nissan Sentra. But the bulb is not out. It flickers when the car first starts in the morning then nothing after that. But the alternator won't charge the battery.
If the bulb is flickering your not getting exciter voltage and the alternator wont charge
@@NOBOX7 How do I fix it? I've replaced the alternator (twice), the starter and the battery. Please I need help!
has anyone tried this and knows if its legit
Truly can be nightmares!!! I loved it when the only brain in the car was Mine😁
Still my prado land cruiser is not charging
I have a 2008 Chevy uplander I change the battery and the alternator and it won't charge
battery dash light goes out and your car dies
Wow
I have a 2004 Honda Civic and it’s battery isn’t working for me. We’ve changed the alternator several times, the battery is good because we’ve checked it in other cars, and still no luck getting that alternator to charge. My battery light does not come on when the switch it turned though. We’ve checked the wires and the fuss box, all good as well. After watching this video we’re going to replace the cluster and hope that works.
If the battery light in your dash board burns out your alternator exciter coil will not engage. Stupid i know but some engineer decided your life should be in the hands of a single light bulb
Turn on the car with a fresh battery and see if the battery light lightsup . all lights light up on ignition so you can see if they work , thats why it deos that its a systems test
@@NOBOX7 thank you. I appreciate it!
@@anarivera9897 were you able to fix the issue with the alternator?
@@Xandro_B20 ended up being an electrical issue! A rodent had gotten into one of the wires and that was the entire issue, once I replaced the wire my car has been good as new! Thank you for asking!
Here I go back out to the car again in the hundred degree weather to see if this is my issue...
nope it wasn't
dash light bro if your battery dash lights goes out your done son
I am bedly worries in a way i stop car and not start again .....I don't know what exactly I thing it's alternator but first I change my car fuse
Good
Check you fuse like first!
Anyone can tell me what to do if i checked the bulb but turns out to be a small LED light that sauderd
hmmm it may be fried does it ever turn on ? LED's do burn out
You said a fuse what fuse was it?? Number?? Name??? Y'all just say shit and don't explain the name the. Number smh
we are showing you there are hidden fuses in cars not just 1 car specificly and there is no number on it its broke
Checked fuses, changed battery, renewed alternator. Still no good
Dashboard battery light , if that light burns out your exciter current to the alternator never initiates the magnetism to get your brand new alternator working
@@NOBOX7 the light is fine
Perhaps your ignition switch has failed my friend , this could also be an inline fuse but i havent seen an inline fuse for a long time , tcheck the small wires for a fuse
@@NOBOX7 ignition switch is fine. Does its jobs
new here
Is that a Toyota Avalon
Japanese car alternator fuse issues
My battery light came on and my car still won’t work
your alternator is dead
What about range rover
Look in your manual for all the fuses . How many volts do you have when the car is running ? ids the light bulb in the battery signal burnt out ? does the battery light come on hen you turn on the key ?
ATTENTION : If the battery light on your dash board does not turn on for a couple seconds when you start the car your alternator will not charge the battery .
Yes your car engineers are that stupid . They thought it would be cool to cling your safety and well being to a small Chinese light bulb that causes the entire car to fail if it goes out. also THE FUSE FOR THIS BULB WILL DO THE SAME
What if my battery light stays lit? Replaced alternator. Charged up battery.. doesn’t seem to be registering car temperature either. Will this be a fuse issue possibly?
Car started drove it down the street, the battery light stayed lit. Then the car died and wouldn’t start again. Brand new alternator charged battery... I’m hoping this is just a fuse any suggestions? 2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5rs
@@williamr.6065 ever find out the issue?
@@williamr.6065 did it fix the issue?
@@Xandro_B20 ended up being a defective alternator
you need to replace your coil between you brain