1998 Malibu Battery Light Problems! HELP PLZ

[cheifa_sergio]

i recently had a problem with my starter on my 98 malibu, replaced it and then my alternator appeared to not be working as i went out, my battery light came on and then all electronics failed (yet the car still ran), i pulled over, and it wouldn't start due to dead battery.

i had the alternator checked and it was fine, so i replaced the battery. BUT THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON!!!

i don't want to be stranded again, so can anybody please give me a helping hand.

i appreciate it, and many thanks ahead of time!!!

[slls]

Originally Posted by cheifa_sergio

i recently had a problem with my starter on my 98 malibu, replaced it and then my alternator appeared to not be working as i went out, my battery light came on and then all electronics failed (yet the car still ran), i pulled over, and it wouldn't start due to dead battery.

i had the alternator checked and it was fine, so i replaced the battery. BUT THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON!!!

i don't want to be stranded again, so can anybody please give me a helping hand.

i appreciate it, and many thanks ahead of time!!!

Go back to the starter and make sure all the wires are hooked up, I think you left some off.

[Speedy_1234]

Check Engine on?

[cheifa_sergio]

All 3 wires on the starter were hooked up, and no the check engine light doesn't show up.

it won't turn on right away, it waits about 45 seconds then turns on.

any help?

should i go back to the starter?

[Speedy_1234]

Well, I think it the starter cause yesterday I had the same problem the third time it would only click so I had to buy a new starter. I like the way the new starter startes the car

[johnholl]

Was the starter a remanufactured unit? [Sometimes i think they cleanup the exchanges and stick em in a new box] Ummmmmmmmmmm?

[cheifa_sergio]

am still having the same problems.. the starter was rebuilt.

after we put the starter in.. it ran like a champ again, but then we ran into a situation where the car's alternator isn't seeming to work.

i took it down.. had it tested, of which it came back supposedly "in working condition".. but still the same problem

it seems that the fans don't even kick on when we run the car!

we just bought a new battery because our old one was shot.. but STILL no results

any help?

[johnholl]

a working alternator should be placing a charge of 13-13.75 volts into a fully charged\ good battery with the engine running. Also, the headlights should not allow the battery to drop below 12.5v at idle

[johnholl]

ps: the engine has to be very warm, 3 clicks above center on the temp guage, before the fan turns on

[Speedy_1234]

True but if you turn on the A.C. the fans should kick in before normal temp

[cheifa_sergio]

aight new problem arose today.. i went ahead and got a used, but known working, alternator and replaced the old one. Then we started the car up. the car started right up,.. then made a loud pop from inside the engine compartment. My fiance turned the car off, so we could analyze... we couldn't find anything, but when we went to start the car again.. nothing followed but a click.

The next day my soon-to-be father-n-law, who is knowledgeable with car repair, took a look at the situation.. He looked over the starter and found that i had hooked up the wires incorrectly, so he corrected the wiring problem. But after we tried starting the car a few times afterward it wouldn't even click.

We recharged the battery to full 3 times, but no luck with starting the car. And not even a click..

Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated GREATLY!!! and many thanks ahead of time guys.

[Speedy_1234]

Ok But Did you check the starter since you put the cables wrong maybe you fried the starter. whats serious is that you might also have damage the main computer

[cheifa_sergio]

starter was fried.. replaced it today (correctly ) , started driving fine.. but the little battery light was still on.. my fiance drove it over to pick me up from work.. and it died!! out of the blue! and then when we tried to start it back up it just continually turned over but didn't fire..

any help with this new problem and POS car?.. plz i'd appreciate it soo much!

[stratford_boy]

Pull the batter terminals off as well as the red rubber boot on the positive. make sure that they are not corroded. If they are, use baking soda and water and clean completly. Is this an ac delco battery?? Might want to take to a shop and have an AVR test performed just to make sure the starting/ charging system are ok. Have to rule out the simple things first.