Dummy battery light on-new alternator and battery

DEOME

MEMBER
BUICK LESABRE

I have an 1989 Buick LeSabre with 139,000 miles and a 3.8 liter engine.

About three months ago, the battery light came on as I was driving. I started loosing power to everything, but made it home. The next morning the car didn't start again.

I checked the battery, it was old and wouldn't recharge, so I got a new one.

Still didn't start. I replaced the alternator, still didn't start.

I took off the starter, put it in the back of my truck and let it tumble around on the way to the autoparts store to check it. According to the machine was good.

The old starter got put back on and the car started.
It ran for about 1 month, 1,000 miles, then the battery light came on and after a couple short trips, it didn't start any more.

I checked and recharged the battery, and the car started again but the battery light is still on. I am just waiting for it to run down the battery again.

What could be the problem? I have checked all the electrical connections I can find. They all look good. Are there some secret ones hiding or could it be something else?

2 Replies

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,754 POSTS

Is the overflow bottle and the washer bottle close to each other? Does the overflow have fluid in it? After you replaced the thermostat did you bleed the air out of the top coolant hose? Air will rise to the highest point. With the engine warm slowly open the bleeder on the housing where the top hose connects to the engine. Do it a couple of times and rid the cooling system of air. Make sure that the system has plenty of coolant