Battery Light On - Now Now Also Difficutly Starting

[Crit]

I've been driving with the battery light aglow for awhile now and have been doing OK, but now starting is becoming a problem sometimes. Over the years I have accidently run the battery down a few times by leaving my lights on (I unhooked that damn buzzer) but I put it on the charger and it's come back fine. A few months ago I replaced the brush unit on the altenator hoping to solve the battery light problem. It seemed to help as the battery light glowed a lot less brightly. It's funny, the light sometimes glows more than others. But now the battery light is back to glowing brightly more often and every 2-3 weeks I have to put the charger on.

Also during this time I occasionally have some difficulty starting the car, especially when cold. What happens is the engine turns over and just as it is trying to start the starter teeth make that horrible sound grinding against the flywheel. Getting the battery to full charge has solved this in the past but this AM it took a lot of cranking over and the car barely started.

My sense is that I have more than one problem here. I have looked at the ground connections and don't see any issue but I could be wrong. I'm also thinking that maybe a sensor not working right may be part of it. I cleaned the throttle passage way about 2 years ago and maybe I should do it again. Also the car once it starts runs fine.

I sure could use some input here as this car is my daily driver and I want to avoid having to go pay at the shop to fix this.

Thanks,

Crit

[alotawatts]

I have looked at the ground connections and don't see any issue but I could be wrong.

Try pulling and cleaning all of the connections. Use sandpaper to brighten them. Then go to a 'Batteries R Us ' type of place or even a small local shop. For no cost they will test your charging system with the car running with one of these type of gizmos. It's takes them all of about five minutes. -
http://www.aa1car.com/library/charging_checks.htm

[tacomagabe]

I think most the guys on here know what they are talking about a heck of a lot more then me...but the grinding from the flywheel sounds like the starter isn't getting enough juice or the brushes might me worn down inside the starter...Don't Know about the bat light being on though I have the same issue I have to sort out

[John in Simi Valley]

Crit,
What Gabe says makes sense; your car has an automatic, so the flexplate (AKA: Flywheel) may be flexing in a fashion like Warner was describing. Here is Warner's worn-out flexplate:
<img src="http://www.firstfives.org/photos/warner ... 8ia_09.jpg">

Regarding the battery light; you changed the reg/brush assembly BUT still have a problem. I suggest you have the charging system checked out along with the battery. Firestone, Pepboys, even Kragen auto parts have portable diagnostic equipment to troubleshoot problems. Such diagnostics are usually no-cost so you have nothing to loose. IF you need a fresh alternator I have one that only has a couple months use. It's yours if you need.

When batteries become discharged they grow little spikes of lead between the plates causing an internal short. A couple good discharges and the battery becomes toast.

Good Luck, let us know what you find.

[Andrew in Calgary]

Batteries do have a limited lifespan too - I don't think I've ever found an original battery in a 20 year old vehicle - even one that looks like it never left the showroom. Which is not to say you have a 20 year old batter, only that they do eventually "go to the farm".

[1st 5er]

Sounds like a combination of issues, but I'd start with the recommended charging system check at you local parts house.