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Charging vs. Discharging... (long) Posted by IrieTom [Email]  (#1032)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from IrieTom) on Fri, 20 Apr 2001 09:27:33
In Reply to: Re: Warning lights, Prodigy, Fri, 20 Apr 2001 05:06:00 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
The "charging problem" would be the scenerio where your alternator isn't producing enough output to re-charge the battery. If the voltage across the battery terminals isn't 14v or so when the car is running, then the battery won't be able to re-charge. As a result, the battery will run lower and lower until the electrical system suffers. Wierd things will happen with lights growing dimmer and computer-controlled functions (engine management) going out of standard tolerances.
A "discharge problem" happens when the car continues to drain the battery after it has been shut off. This will happen if you leave lights on or crank the radio for a few hours when the motor isn't running. A frequent culprit in a C900 is the light inside the trunk. If it gets switched on and stays on with the trunk closed, it will slowly drain the battery. Within a few days, the car won't start because the battery won't be strong enough to turn the starter motor or produce a spark in the ignition.
What you describe in your car could be either one of these problems or a combination of the two. If your car's electrical system isn't able to re-charge the battery, it will grow weaker until it dies. This is usually a result of an alternator problem (the voltage regulator is a component within the alternator) or a bad ground at the alternator or battery. If your alternator is fine, but the battery drains when the car is parked, you'll have problems which will be more pronounced after the car sits for a long time.
If electricity is an alien concept to you, bring your car to someone with the appropriate knowledge and tools to accurately diagnose your problem. This particular problem is not unique to SAABs. Of course, it is better to bring your car to a SAAB specialist, but in this case it isn't mandatory.
95% of the time, the problem will be fixed with little or no replacement parts (Cheap!), but if your alternator is bad, it will run you a few hundred bucks. Frequently, just cleaning off some electrical connections will breathe life back into your car.
Get this fixed before you get stranded somewhere.
, Fri, 20 Apr 2001 02:19:56, Fri, 20 Apr 2001 09:27:33 <-- Viewing This Message
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