Last Friday I left an interior light on in my Camaro. I went out Sat. evening and had to get a jump before I left. The battery didn't seem to be charging as I drove because the radio & dash lights kept going out. I came home and charged it, and now the alt. guage reads 10.5 instead of the constant 13.5 I got before leaving the light on. Is this some strange coincidence, or did leaving the light on have something to do with my alternater not charging the battery as much as it did before? I haven't really taken it out since this happened, so I don't know if 10.5 is enough to keep my battery charged. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

After a battery has been drained it possibly could have killed a cell. It will still take a charge but sometimes not a full charge or not a charge at all. I would suggets you charge it and put a load test on it. I think Pep Boys or stores like that will test it for free. It do sound like you killed your battery. Thats where I would start. Also if you have a Volt meter I would see if your alt. is putting out 12 to 13.5 volts. You said your gauge is reading 10.5 volts. Double check with a VOM.If it is putting out 12 to 13.5 volts then it is your battery. If not hen it is your Alt.

 

Thanks i'll have to look into that.

 

A dead battery will not affect the alt. It just won't allow it to fully charge a dead battery

 

A dead battery will burn out the diodes in the alternator. The alternator is not really designed to charge a dead battery....just to top it off after the short burst of start amps. Especially if the battery has a bad cell as mentioned. I would replace the battery immediately. If you mess around with this you will end up replacing the alternator too. Hope this helps? Good Luck!!

 

I'm going to get a new battery tonight. Hopefully it's not too late for the alternator! Thanks.

 

You should be safe. I am willing to bet you are OK

 

With the car running disconnect the ground wire on the battery. If the car dies then the alternator is gone.

 

It turned out to be the alternator. Thanks for the help guys.