Hi everyone,

I have a "Battery Not Charging" alert, it's never happened before. Is the cause typically a bad alternator?

Thanks!

 

That would be my guess. If you have a multimeter you can verify. Set it to DC and see what the voltage on the battery is with the engine off then check with the engine running. The voltage should be higher when the engine is running. Off should be about 12.8v or less. Then test again with the engine running and it should be above 13v. This is not comprehensive but it is the most basic verification that the alternator is at least doing something.

If that fails then a bit more in depth testing would be needed to be certain that it is indeed the alternator or if there is some other issue like a wiring fault.

 

do you still have a serpentine belt? simple checks first.

 

Check voltage at alternator.

 

It was a bad alternator. Easy fix.