Battery light came on yesterday?

2004 ACURA TL
280,000 MILES • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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GREGNYC
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Battery light came on yesterday. Replaced the battery but the light stayed on. I was told (by tech at Oreilly's) it was probably the alternator. went to a mechanic the next day. On the way, the battery light went off. The mechanic says the battery and alternator are fine, but I need a starter. I don't know what the starter has to do with the battery light. On the way home, the battery came on again. I'm confused. Don't know what to do now.
Feb 2, 2024 at 9:46 AM
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STRAILER
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Yep, the starter has nothing to do with it, the alternator is bad, and it needs to be replaced, alternator failures can be intermittent FYI. To be sure when the battery light is on you can check the alternator output by following this guide:

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

Here are the instructions on how to change the part out so you can see what needs to be done. Check out the images (below). Let us know if you need anything else.


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Feb 2, 2024 at 11:02 AM
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GREGNYC
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So, the mechanic is incorrect? He ran a diagnostic and said the alternator is good. I'm confused.
Feb 2, 2024 at 11:21 AM
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STRAILER
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Yes, it was working at the time, to double check to see if the alternator is bad, when the battery light comes on that is when the alternator should be tested as in the guide above. Alternators can go out intermittently.
Feb 3, 2024 at 9:53 AM