Im have trouble with the check light for my battery. It all started when I replaced my dead battery with another duralast gold. It worked fine for a few days then all of a sudden the light came on. Checked the battery, cable and terminals and it all looked fine. The light still was on, so I replaced the terminals because they looked a bit worn (they were the wingnut type) with the block type. Still didnt work. After this I searched and searched the forum and their wasnt anything like this but I did the following:

1) check the cables and retaped all the worn tape
2) sand the terminals and the battery post
3) tested the old terminal again and new one
4) used more battery lube with more testing

Im still stumped at the moment because the car drives like nothing is wrong but the light makes me worry. What do you guys suggest? I need major help here. I was thinking that it could be the battery, terminal, or maybe redo the wiring, by the way its a 92sc300 if that matters.

there is another key important factor to your voltage system, and it just MAY be what is killing your batteries as you drive round on them..... A_L_T_E_R_N_A_T_O_R

Common misconception - The battery light doesn't necessarily mean the battery. It represents a malfunction in the charging system. Mine finally went out after I had my alternator replaced. Good luck.

Take it to Sears to have it diagnosed. They only charge $10 and do a really good job. They check the whole charging system and can tell you what's wrong. Last time my car had trouble starting, I took it to Sears and after the diagnostic test, they said that I needed a new battery and problem solved. They said my altenator and starter was OK. Who knows, maybe you bought a faulty battery. It happened to my mom once.

thanks guys, i was unaware that the alternator could have caused the light to go off. After reading and searching through the archives that might be the problem.

If you have a volt meter then you can do a simple test. With the car idling and with everything on (A/C, headlights, radio, wipers, etc) touch the positive and negative terminals with the leads and take a reading. You should have greater than 12 volts. If it's less than 12 volts then you may have an alternator problem.

my battery light/voltage problems weren't fixed till a new alternator went in. that very well could be your problem.

90% of the time when my battery light came on it was the alternator....fixed it...problem solved!

CEO

This may be just luck, but when my battery light came on, Lexus tested it for free. . . Don't laugh! But just to be safe, I had it verified by a few other mechanics.

you must have been at Dave Munganast's Lexus (or what ever the hell his name is)...that where i got my car...and drove it 12 hours back to the crib...hehe

CEO

Is that in St. Louis? I got mine checked at Superior Lexus North in Kansas City.

yeah its just outside of st louis....in the burbs of st louis i guess....

CEO