dashboard warning lights came on and wont go off?

2005 HYUNDAI MATRIX
250,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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ARCANGEL777
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  • 2 POSTS
HMy matrix dashboard warning lights came on and wont go off after starting the car. Battery, Airbag, Handbrake, ABS all on but car still drives. Please help this car is costing me a fortune.
I have replaced the alternator's (rectifier) about a month ago after the the battery and hand break warning lights came on and the battery died.
The problem started when i was driving in heavy rain - could this be a short or am I looking at something more severe?
Many Thanks,
Dec 9, 2012 at 5:15 PM
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SQM
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Hello,

It appears there are several possible issues.
Let's try to break it down.
First of all, the battery light stays illuminated when the alternator is unable to charge the battery. I could be because of a faulty alternator or bad wiring.
If you have the same battery light issue and the battery is going bad, then the issue could be the wiring.
It is possible to have moisture get into a connector and corroded that. Which can impact the way the alternator charges or not charges the battery.
Inspect the battery cable, look for any corrosion. Make sure it is secured.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

As for the ABS light and Airbag light, they get triggered when the system detects any issue within those respective systems.
This could be due to a bad sensor, wiring or a module.
A good first step would be to scan the vehicle and retrieve the codes. That can help point to the right direction of what might be the cause.

Here is a helpful video on how to retrieve the ABS codes:

https://youtu.be/rTtAnsOlZU4

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/abs-warning-light-on-easy-repair-guide

Another one for Airbag codes:

https://youtu.be/gnSGfEqrf_w


Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Jan 11, 2022 at 9:17 PM