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Battery warning light keeps coming on

Tiny
KAMP11
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 SATURN ION
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 127,000 MILES
Replaced alternator and battery. When you start car battery light comes on then goes off, comes on again five minutes later, goes off again. If you drive more than twenty or thirty minutes battery light comes on and stays on. After another few minutes all warnings lights flash and all gauges freeze, then power steering goes out and car dies completely. Had new alternator tested and its fine just put new battery in. Do not know what else to do. Would appreciate any thoughts on what could be wrong. Thanks
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Saturday, August 20th, 2016 AT 8:12 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
What did the old alternator do before you replaced it? Also you could have a intermittent bad new alternator that tests good on the machine. The machine only tests the alternator at that moment for a very brief amount of time. I have also seen bad ECM's cause intermittent charging issues.
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Saturday, August 20th, 2016 AT 9:34 AM
Tiny
KAMP11
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
When my car first died everyone I talked to said to have alternator tested, so I did. The old alternator tested bad saying the voltage regulator failed. After putting in new alternator and had same problem, had battery tested and that failed. Now I have new battery and alternator, but same problem.
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+6
Saturday, August 20th, 2016 AT 10:02 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
When it is not charging have you tested all the inputs to the alternator?
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-1
Saturday, August 20th, 2016 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
When it is not charging what is the voltage reading to the two red wires going to the the alternator?
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Saturday, August 20th, 2016 AT 10:09 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Also have you had the car scanned for codes yet?
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Saturday, August 20th, 2016 AT 10:10 AM
Tiny
KAMP11
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have two codes that came up p0037 which says heated oxygen sensor heater control circuit low bank 1 sensor 2 and p0135 oxygen sensor heater bank 1 sensor 1.
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Saturday, August 20th, 2016 AT 11:16 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
Hate to do this to you SATURNTECH9

I found a diagram (without more information, I punched in "Ion 1" during my search- It may be the same one for the 2-3-4-5-6-7 LOL! It may not be the right diagram)

I will try again if it is wrong.

Two pictures below:

1) full diagram

2) same diagram with top portion enlarged

Even with a good battery and alternator, if somewhere in between them is open or broken, the battery will not get a charge.

I was looking to find a fusible link in the diagram, but none are shown, I guess Saturn does not use them.

There is a fuse up top in the diagram (check it!)

Other than that, follow the wires in Mr. Diagram and look for something disconnected, loose corroded, etc.

SATURNTECH9, I figured, once again, that the better looking of our bunch should present the diagram information.

Keep us posted

The Medic
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Saturday, August 20th, 2016 AT 12:15 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I have seen the cluster go bad and cause this issue. I would try a used unit.
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Saturday, August 20th, 2016 AT 1:36 PM
Tiny
VARREY
  • MEMBER
  • 0 POST
Get a rebuilt cluster cost me $143.00. Fixed the car.
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Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 3:18 PM

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