I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500, the check gauges light has come on, and the battery voltage gauge is over to the low side. The lights are dim, and wipers, windows, etc, are slow. It also is hard to start. Is this a low battery or something more serious?
by 
justagirl
ANSWERS: 2
-
Lights are dim, battery voltage meter is reporting low voltage, power windows are slow...yes. Your battery is dead. Get a boost. Then drive to an automotive store and buy a new battery if it's still stock. Should replace them every 5yrs or so.
-
The battery is not the cause. The battery doesn't power anything in the car while the engine is running, except perhaps at idle, or under extreme load conditions (too many accessories turned on). The alternator is what feeds everything in the car when the engine is running. In order to charge the battery it must have a pressure slightly greater than the battery, and so it should be putting out from 13.5 to 14.5 volts (perhaps 15, though that's pushing it) for a 12 volt battery and electrical system. If you place a volt-meter across the battery while the engine is running, and it measures anything less than 13.5 volts, then your alternator is most likely faulty (or voltage regulator, which may or may not be inside of the alternator....todays cars often have the regulator inside of the alternator). Replace your alternator. Also, if your battery is more than 4 or 5 years old, you may want to replace it because it won't be able to hold as much of a charge, which can, at times, stress the alternator.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC