1988 Chevrolet Celebrity Volts Light On

1988 CHEVROLET TRUCK
Avatar
JOANBP
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Hi there,
The mileage on this car is just under 104,000.
The car had been starting up and running fine until the other morning. My husband went to start it and it was dead. The car was jump started and seemed okay. It was left running unattended for a few minutes and it stalled and would not restart. We think that the volts light on the instrument panel went on after the first jump. We tried jump starting it again but had no luck. Today we replaced the battery and the car starts and runs fine... so far. The volts light is still on.

The Owner's Manual talks about the voltmeter but that isn't part of the instrument panel in this car. Can you please tell us what this light indicates?

Thanks in advance for your help. :roll:
Jan 13, 2007 at 7:39 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
BOOTDOG
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 665 POSTS
that light you're talking about is telling you that the alternator is not charging. if you can take the vehicle to advance auto and they will check your charging system for free. a good alternator will keep a charge on the battery, which it should be charging around 14 to 14.5 volts while running. i'm sure that you have a bad alternator. good luck :)
Jan 13, 2007 at 7:47 AM
Avatar
BACKYARDMECHANIC
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 337 POSTS
The light is on because there is more than likely a problem with the charging system. This is probably the reason the car would not start in the first place. First check the alternator belt to make sure it is tight and not slipping. A simple and quick way to check this is to see if you can turn the alternator by hand . If you can then the belt is slipping and you need to adjust it if you can. To check if the alternator is charging the system proper you will need a voltmeter. Connect the meter to the batery ( + of the meter to + of the battery and - to -) And observe the reading. If the alternator is working properly then the reading should be around 13.2 to 15.2 volts with the car running. I also like to test the alternator under a load by turning all the accessories on like the lights fan defroster etc. Even with everything on the voltage should not drop below the minimum. :) Hope this helps
Jan 13, 2007 at 7:57 AM

Suggested Repair

The volts light means the charging system is not charging. Check that the alternator belt is tight and not slipping, then measure battery voltage with the engine running (about 13.2–15.2 volts, including with accessories on). Have the charging system tested; a failed alternator is the likely cause.

Conversation Summary

A 1988 Chevrolet Celebrity with about 104,000 miles died, was jump-started, then stalled and would not restart. After a new battery it starts and runs, but the volts light stays on. Experts say the light indicates the alternator is not charging, which likely caused the no-start. They recommend checking belt tension and verifying running voltage around 13.2–15.2 volts, or having the charging system tested.

Related Repair Questions

Add a reply
Join 2CarPros for free, one of the most advanced car repair communities on the internet. From first-time drivers to seasoned mechanics, everyone is welcome to reply, share details, and get better answers. You can add a temporary image or video first; uploads are limited to 20 MB.

Ask a new question

Frequently Asked Problems for This Vehicle