u might need a new starter
If the battery checks out okay, you can replace just the voltage regulator inside the alternator.
Battery light usually means alternator not charging. Most common solutions would be be a bad alternator, bad connection, or loose alt belt.
I had this problem on a 1979 Mercury Grand Marquis- it turned out to be a short in the wire going from the alternator to the battery. It was intermittent, so it was very hard to run down. If the alternator checks good, the short/broken wire could easily be the culprit.Rocky_B - See my entry here for more things you might want to check: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_could_be_wrong_if_the_battery_light_stays_on_and_the_battery_still_runs_down_on_a_1996_windstar_after_installing_a_new_battery_and_alternator
If you *know* the alternator is good, like you just replaced it, or removed it and had it tested down at the autoparts store, then it could be any number of problems. Check all cables and connections between the battery and alternator. This includes cleaning the connection terminals on the battery (they make a special wire brush for this purpose). If that is all done and the problem still exists, then it is probably a bad battery. Check the fluid levels in the battery, if they are fine then take it down to the autoparts store and have it tested as well.
The battery light isn't an indicator that the battery is always bad. What the light should really be is a picture of an alternator, but most people wouldn't recognize that. Have the alternator checked off the vehicle to make sure it is good, then have it checked on the vehicle, (many places like Auto Zone do this for free). If it's not charging on the vehicle, you could have an alternator fuse bad or your car might even have an inline fuse between the alternator and battery. Many Ford products have a large fusible link between the alternator and battery, and if it's bad, there is no power going to the battery from the alternator. Good Luck!!!!
Because the ac uses juice from the battery, if it uses all the energy, the car wont start Just as in winter, when you have the heating on, the AC uses the heating fan to circulate the cold air. It is the fan that takes the current from the battery and if the battery is not holding it's charge or the alternator is not charging the battery then the battery will die and the car cut out. It this situation it is best if 2 checks made, if necessary, by an Auto-Electrician. They are:- 1) The battery to see if it is holding it's charge and 2) The alternator to see if it is charging. Replace the faulty components. If the car cut's out when the battery dies this suggests the alternator may well be at fault. However the checks will confirm this one way or the other. A red light may show on the dash if the alternator is not charging.
For a battery to "Drain" you MUST have a short somewhere or the "Glovebox" or "Trunk" light is staying on etc. etc. Battery's don't just "Drain" on there own ;-) TommyTrouble
Make sure the battery is checked out under a load. This will indicate whether the battery is capable of holding a charge.Second, suspect the alternator is not charging the battery.Third, suspect a short or a switch somewhere that is draining the battery.
It checks many things, connections, belt, and voltage regulator. I have never checked one with a load test. On a modern car or truck, never ever disconnect the battery from the alternator with the motor running to check the alternator. It can burnup a lot of electronics instantly.
Hydrometer.
Check for voltage between battery and starter. You need approx. 13and a half volts to start a car. Battery cable should be carrying 12 at least. Check Negative cable for continuity. If this all checks out and engine jerks when starting make sure timing belt hasn't stretched or that fuel pump pressure is adequate. Long distance diagnosis is difficult without hearing the problem
first off you need to find out where the draw is, a easy way is to take your negative battery cable off (works on eather side) get test light and hook one end to the end of the battery cable and the other end to the battery terminal, now unplug your hoolight, take your key out of the ignotion, turn all power off in vehicle and shut all doors, if the test lite is lit up any there is a draw that is draining you batter, now get to your fuse panel and pull fuses one by one till the light shuts off, whatever fuse you pulled to shut off the light is your problem area, now make sure after you pull the fuse that you close the door, if you have the door open it will light up the test light. One reason could be that your Alternator needs to be replaced. Some simple checks can be performed to see if the source of the battery draining is the alternator or some device that is remaining on after the ignition switch is turned off. First, have the battery recharged. Jump starting a completely dead battery may damage a good alternator by causing unusually high voltage output. Start the vehicle with the recharged battery and place a voltmeter across the battery terminals. When the car is started, the voltmeter will drop momentarily and then should read about 13.5-14.0 volts indicating the alternator is working.