Battery Light

Reitan · August 07, 2011, 07:32:07 PM

The battery light in my Eagle, Lewis, continues to glow (albeit dully) after all of the other diagnostic lights have gone off. Mother says the alternator could be going bad (it is the original after all

) ; I think it might be the wiring shorting out. As of a few hours ago, I took him on a fifteen minute round trip of the town where I live (garnering many

looks

). When I started him up, the battery light glowed brightly and then went off with all the others, but came back on when I tried to get him to move. He starts fine, idles a little rough (always has though

), and runs the same as always.

mudkicker715 · August 07, 2011, 07:43:14 PM

Most atoparts stores can check it out to tell you if the alt is good or not. Maybe its as simple as a bad ground.

Reitan · August 07, 2011, 09:23:05 PM

Taking him to an auto store could help, that is, if mother would let me take him out of the county. For some reason, she is afraid something might happen to either me or him

mudkicker715 · August 07, 2011, 09:31:35 PM

Assuming tou do not have a volt meter.

Reitan · August 07, 2011, 09:35:59 PM

Mother says we have a volt meter. Now we just need the time to use it. :-D

mudkicker715 · August 07, 2011, 09:57:31 PM

When at idle you should see about 14 volts.

Gil-SX4 · August 08, 2011, 12:09:38 AM

Start the vehicle and disconnect the negative cable from the battery if the motor keeps running the alternator is working.
There should be a old post about the same problem you are having, I remember it going on for a good time since the problem couldn't be pinpointed it took a lot of trial and error.

ammachine390 · August 08, 2011, 12:13:41 AM

When mine was glowing, the alternator was going bad. I think I drove it for about a year with it glowing, but it got worse. I replaced the alternator, no more glow.

JayRamb · August 08, 2011, 12:16:58 AM

Mine was glowing. The engine was TOOOOO retarded. It like the computer told the battery, "I'm not going to charge you for my engine isn't timed. I advanced the timing. Battery has been charging ever since and strongly.

68AMXGOPAC · August 08, 2011, 08:56:27 AM

MY AMX was doing the same thing. One thing I did notice it glowed brighter with the lights pulled on , thus it wasn't quite totally shot, but the load of the lights made it worse , as it couldn't keep up with the demand.

Reitan · August 08, 2011, 07:21:21 PM

I did the same thing with my headlights as 68AMXGOPAC, but it didn't make any difference. Then I disconnected the negative battery cable (thanks to Gil-SX4 for the tip) and he still ran. Actually, he started to idle smoother with the cable off $:-\$ . While the cable was off, the battery light grew so dim I could only see it by cupping my hands over the instrument panel. The only thing left to check is the alternator ground wire. I just have to trace it from the alternator up. And I can't find it right now

jim · August 08, 2011, 11:32:14 PM

It has been said on here that it will damage an alternator to let the motor run with the ground cable disconnected. I would not do it for a long period of time. Many people, including me, have done it as a test.

Gil-SX4 · August 08, 2011, 11:53:52 PM

Don't forget that most of our AMC Eagles are older then 20 years, so it is a good idea to check all the cables, wires, terminals and connections. All so make sure you clean the connections.

68AMXGOPAC · August 09, 2011, 12:27:03 AM

Quote from: Gil-SX4 on August 08, 2011, 11:53:52 PM
Don't forget that most of our AMC Eagles are older then 20 years, so it is a good idea to check all the cables, wires, terminals and connections. All so make sure you clean the connections.

Hmmm, I would say all of our Eagles are over 20 years old : ) .

JayRamb · August 09, 2011, 10:35:53 AM

I've been very anal about that. i put a little dieletric grease on the terminals and plug in's for proper connection and power!

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