When you get into your vehicle or you’re driving down the street and a new light starts to illuminate on your dashboard, it’s never a welcome sight. While these warning lights are admittedly a sign of trouble, they’re also fundamentally important; they give you the chance to address an issue before it gets more serious than it already is.
If the battery light on your dashboard comes on, it’s a sign that something is amiss with your car’s electrical system. If you’re not sure which light it is, it’s shaped like a rectangle with two small protrusions on top–similar to the top of a 9V battery you’d find around the house. It might also have + and – symbols on it to make it more clear.
An electrical problem can prevent your vehicle from starting at all, so be sure to let the experts at our Morristown Toyota service center diagnose the issue right away!
Reasons Your Battery Light Might Come On
When the battery light catches your eye, it can be caused by a number of different things that range from very simple to a bit more involved. The Toyota battery experts at our Morristown shop have some tips to help you get to the bottom of things.
The first thing to check is the terminals of your battery. These are the two posts for positive and negative connections on your battery; they’re typically on the top of the battery, or occasionally on the side. Check that the connections are clean and snug. Solving your battery light could be as simple as this.
If this doesn’t resolve things, or if your battery’s terminals always seem to be corroded, it can be a sign that your battery is on its last legs. The light might also indicate that the alternator is no longer charging the battery the way that it should be. In either case, you’ll likely want to bring your vehicle for service next time you start it up to ensure that the problem is solved before the battery dies completely.
When your battery won’t start your vehicle at all, try jump starting it using a jump pack or another vehicle; hopefully this will get things started so you can come in for service without a tow.
To learn more about maintaining your Toyota’s electrical system to ensure the battery light doesn’t plague you, be sure to contact us online or by calling (973) 540-1111 today.