The Chevy Traverse is a full-size crossover SUV sold since 2008. You are here which means you are getting the battery charging system light.
The battery charging system light on the dashboard of your Chevy Traverse coming on means you need to have it checked out by a trained mechanic as soon as possible, or else it may ruin your battery and leave you stranded when the car won’t start.
Table Of Contents
Service Battery Charging System Message Explained
Possible causes for this are,
- Alternator issues
- Battery problems
- Loose wiring
How to fix:
- Check the Battery
- Check the Alternator
- Check the Wires and Connections
Possible consequences if ignored:
- Complete battery loss / not being able to start the engine at all – priority level (high).
Can I drive with my Chevy Traverse when the Service Battery Charging System Message is displayed? Yes.
Can I repair it myself? Possible.
Cost range ($): $0-$1000
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What Is the Meaning of Service Battery Charging System Message?
Typically, the low voltage light indicates that there is a low battery, and everything powered by it is about to shut down.
This implies that all electrical systems including transmission within a car or truck will be affected.
The problem might not be with the battery if it does not charge or hold charge.
In other words, it could be any other component apart from the batteries themselves failing to function properly.
Nor does such notification always mean that you should replace an entire item; some Chevy drivers changed one essential part but still faced issues later on.
What are some Dos and Don’ts?
When you see this message, the car is dying. You don’t want to use it immediately after starting, in case you haven’t noticed yet.
But if the message catches you on the way, then it’s already running on battery only.
In such a case, turning off the ignition is not advisable since it may not start again once turned off.
Find all unnecessary power-consuming components like stereo, AC, fog lights, or seat warmers so that you can buy yourself more drive time or pull over and wait for help.
While at it ensure that you have:
- A warning/hazard triangle
- A reflector Jacket
- Jump-starter cables
- Contacts to a service station
- Diagnosis and Probable Solutions
Diagnosis and Possible Fixes
Before doing anything else let me put across something. Check your battery terminals because they might be faulty.
Corroded terminals at the battery usually prevent a full charge hence this corrosion might drain the battery and affect the alternator as well.
Therefore clean your terminals before checking anything else.
It could be either of them; either the battery itself is dead or alternators are failing which are unable to charge up batteries anymore.
Remember a lot of things in a car are run by batteries such as headlights, ignition systems, speakers & navigation systems plus all other electrical components in cars requiring charges to work.
Experts have suggested how to tell between these two by jumpstarting your vehicle.
If it dies immediately after then there is an issue with one of your alternators while if later fails to start again on its own after being jump-started then look at having a dead battery replaced.
Another problem could be with the drive belt located in the pulley next to the alternator; With the engine running identify whether the belt is spinning and the pulley rotating.
Sometimes belt could be a little bit out of position or too stretched thus making it impossible for the belt to fully rotate the pulley.
When the belt & pulley are okay then probably it’s time to check if the problem is originating from the battery itself.
For this, you will need a multimeter. This is an instrument used to measure voltage, resistance, and current among other things. You will use it to check the voltage.
A standard car battery has 12 volts. So the multimeter should be able to check up to 20 volts to cover the range.
Set your multimeter at 20 volts direct current (DC) then start the vehicle; Proceed to attach terminal ends onto the battery, black going to negative and red onto positive end.
With both terminals connected ideally, you should see a figure of around 12.6 volts or more. Anything less than that shows that your vehicle system is just feeding off the battery alone,
Or it may show 12 volts value which will keep going down until the car turns itself off showing power has been used up in the battery
Steps To Test The Alternator
- Start the car
- While keeping the engine running, remove the negative cable from the battery.
- If the engine stops, it means that the alternator is not supplying enough power and needs to be replaced.
- If you have a voltmeter, you can use it to test the output of the alternator.
Conclusion
To sum up, a “Service battery charging system” message might indicate that it’s not only the battery but many other parts of the circuit.
If you intend to replace them by yourself, do a full diagnosis on the vehicle to confirm which part is faulty before taking it back.
You should exercise caution especially when checking the state of a battery. Have appropriate hand gears if necessary to avoid probable shocks.
Similarly, while purchasing new batteries for replacement, ensure they are of good quality; one can cost around two hundred dollars.
With an alternator, use a multimeter to measure output voltage so that you can know how many amperes shall be required for purchase.
According to experts’ viewpoint; more amps in an alternator will probably ensure a longer life span.
Lastly, in case it sounds confusing have your mechanic or someone knowledgeable about this field check through your entire alternator-battery system and advice on what has been replaced or fixed.
Also, expect a specialist with the right diagnostic tools and skills to accurately diagnose all electrical problems related.
Once done there-after no need to worry because the service battery system light won’t come ON any time soon.
Credits – Cararac
