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Battery light


lobby4579
10-02-2008, 11:23 AM
I have a 99 stratus. About a month or so ago my battery light come on. Now is acts like it going to quite but never does. I lose power is my head light, lost my radio even. I had to just die on me twice now. My battery is good and so is my altern. I tried to monkey with the green and orange cord on my alternator but that was not the problem. I had the battery cable for the neg change tighten and then I did not have the light on. Today the car died again and it will not start back up. it has to sit there for a couple of hours and then i can try to see if it will start. I am not sure what is its deal. Please HELP!!!!

Airjer_
10-02-2008, 11:58 AM
I would bet you need an alternator. Have you checked voltage when the car is running?

lobby4579
10-02-2008, 12:52 PM
I went to Auto Zone when the light first come on the first time. I started my car and let the rpm stay at 1 or 2 then they tested the voltage and battery. both of the battery and alternator come back good. I called the dealership and they said that it still sound like an alternator or battery issue. I told them that you can hear a clicking on the driverside somewhere. I do not hear my alternator kick on or off anymore. My light are very light on my dash and my headlights.

dsramprat
10-04-2008, 12:23 PM
Take it somewhere and have the codes read, if any. In my 97, the battery light came on and it was the alternator failing. There are 3 codes that will cause the battery light to come on. Two of them have to do with charging voltage (too high or too low) and the other one has to do with the generator field. I will almost guarantee your alternator is failing, and you battery is not being charged properly. Sometimes the tests at the part houses aren't always correct.

lobby4579
10-05-2008, 08:06 PM
I went to pick it up at the dealship where they said it was the alternator, it was dead. just clicking and it was dead. I went to the junk yard and picked up a used one off a 98 stratus and it works and it was tested. i will see tomorrow if it is the alternator or not. my dad's mechanic is going to the alternator in. then i will go from there if is not the problem. i hope it is not anything else.

chubbygoatboy
11-02-2008, 04:55 PM
I too have a 96 stratus, 2.4 liter, that has the exact same problems. 1 year ago, I put on a new alternator, and it was fine for 1 year, then it started doing the exact same things again. Advance autoparts said the battery was marginal, so I out in a new one. Same problem, so they replaced the alternator for me under warranty, and it still has the exact same problems. Radio quit, it sometimes barely runs, battery light is on all the time, and has other freaky issues now. I was told the computer controls the charging, as there is no internal regulator in the alternator. Has anyone else experienced this? Does it sound like the PCM? THANKS

C man
11-02-2008, 09:37 PM
I don't have this car but I do have a problem with my battery light. I replaced my PCM, then my alternator which actually was bad, and had my battery tested 2 times once by the dealership along with the alternator. Both were good. I've got a lifetime warrenty on the PCM so I might try that avenue again. The light is on permantly and I've just learned to deal with it at this point but would like to fix it.

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