08 Explorer Batt Light but All Checks Good

[plasticseng]

About two weeks ago, the battery light came on the message center on the wife's 08 Explorer Eddie Bauer and the battery got weak, so I checked some voltages and determined that the alternator was bad. Took it to Advance Auto, they tested it bad also. I bought a remanufactured unit from them and installed it.

Now I have the following:

Engine off, key off (no accessories): 12.4 volts
Engine off, key on with lights and blower on: 12.1 volts
Engine running (with accessories off or on): 14.1 volts

All looks good to me, but the light keeps popping on. Hitting reset will turn it off for about 6 or 8 miles, but then it returns.

My OBDII scanner reads the same voltages shown above. She has been driving the vehicle for two weeks with no signs of the battery being drained. There is even a system check function within the message center on the dash that gives a clean 'charging system' check. I have tried swapping another battery in with no effect.

Does anybody know what triggers the light on the in-dash message center? The PCM seems to think everything is OK, and so does my voltmeter.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[vipersinu2]

have them test the battery maybe its going bad. but for the battery to have 12.4 volts its probably good. It maybe that the new alternator is not putting out the correct amps, after all it is reman.

 

[waskly]

you need an alternator.

the pcm triggers the light over a network.

 

[bearman49709]

12.4 is a dead battery, it should be 14.6. Have them check the alternator.

 

[waskly]

12.4 is a dead battery, it should be 14.6. Have them check the alternator.

lol what? car batteries are 12 volts.....

it contains 6 cells and each sell is 2 volts.

6x2 == 12.

 

[edwx]

Have you tried disconnecting, then reconnecting the battery. Maybe it'll clear the light. The battery "sounds" good. I know when my alternator went bad I had to drive for a while on my battery only. I ended up draing the battery so low that it never recovered...but the battery was old and it doesn't sound like you stressed your battery. They aren't deep cells, so they don't like being completely drained.

 

[bearman49709]

lol what? car batteries are 12 volts.....

it contains 6 cells and each sell is 2 volts.

6x2 == 12.

Yes car batteries are"CALLED" 12 volts but are really 14.6 volts
6X2.44 =14.64
Might want to brush up on your electrical skills.

 

[waskly]

Yes car batteries are"CALLED" 12 volts but are really 14.6 volts
6X2.44 =14.64
Might want to brush up on your electrical skills.

you're an idiot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_battery#Exploding_batteries

 

[plasticseng]

Thanks for the input guys. I figured it out. Battery was good, alternator was good.

The three position connector at the top of the alternator was not seated completely. Wasn't afecting the function; just making the light come on.

I feel like an idiot because you always check your connectors. I didn't catch it until I started to take the alternator back off to have it tested.