1998 Pontiac Grand Am BATTERY INDICATING LIGHT

1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM
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JOHN HATFIELD
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1998 Pontiac Grand Am 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

RECENTLY REPLACED BATTERY AND ALTENATOR,THE BATTERY INDICATING LIGHT IN INSTURMENT CLUSTER WOULD COME ON AT LOW RPM IF YOU INCREASED RPM TO 2500 OR ABOVE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT-AFTER REPLACING BATTERY AND ALTENATOR STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEM-NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM UNTILL MY SON-IN LAW JUMPED CAR WHEN IT WOULDN'T START.WHAT IF THEY JUMPED BATTERY WITH WRONG CONNECTION POSITIVE TO NEGITAVE? REVERS POLARITY
Nov 8, 2008 at 8:24 PM
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RACEFAN966
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Yes that can cause all kinds of problems including the computer. What you need to do is check what the voltage output is at the battery. Get a volt meter (digital one is preferable) and hook it up at the battery and see it is putting out 14.5 volts or less. Get back to me with that and we will go from there.
Nov 8, 2008 at 8:42 PM
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JOHN HATFIELD
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CHECKED VOLTAGE AT BATTERY 11.5 TO 12 VOLTS-BUT VOLTAGE DID NOT INCREASE WHEN INCREASING RPM TO 2500 BUT LIGHT WENT OUT
Nov 8, 2008 at 8:56 PM
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JOHN HATFIELD
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i completely charged battery output voltage 12.75 volts still have same problem as before because problem intermitten at low rpm and goes off at 2500 rpm i matched marked pulley and belt on altenator belt moved off marks after start up checked belt tenisoner belt appears to be tight-but as before at 2500 rpm light goes off-thought may be mechanical problem belt tenisionerl
Nov 10, 2008 at 9:46 AM
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RACEFAN966
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At idle or at higher rpm you are only getting 11.5 to 12 volt when it is running? If that is true the alternator is bad. I would pull it off take to the parts store and have them check it just to be sure and if it has no output then replace it.
Nov 12, 2008 at 5:35 PM