Battery trouble Issue

[Claypool]

Just a comment on my 01 Malibu 3.1 with 84K mi. For the second time since I've had this car, I had to replace the battery. Now I'm not complaining about the battery. My issue is that each time, I received no warning what-so-ever that there was a problem brewing with the battery So, you guessed it, I got stuck and had to be jumped. If there was a warning indicator, I at least then could get a replacement without getting stuck somewhere. After it went dead, the batt icon did light up red- well duh! Thanks for telling me!

[SC2ner]

Battery light is an indicator for the alternator. Not necessarily the battery. I would say its time to take the alternator off and take it to advanced auto, pepboys or napa so they can test it (testing is free). You are at about that mileage where its kind of expected. Another thing I would test is the power loss between the alternator and battery to see if the wire is going bad.

If necessary, check for corrosion on the cables. You might have to cut the sleeve back a little bit to check for it. In order to check to see if a cable is bad you need to do a voltage drop test.

[Claypool]

You make some good points SC2ner however, I did not state that the battery was a touch over five years old. So I think its time had arrived. I am not an auto mechanic what you suggest is a bit out of line for.

[SC2ner]

If I had known that information I would have changed my tune. So you know what you need to do. I recommend testing it as a "just in case" sort of deal. Even when I am 100%, if checking is free, I will not pass it up.