What To Do If The Battery Warning Light Comes Up On Your BMW
If you've recently seen a warning light come up on your BMW's dashboard indicating a battery fault, you may be wondering what to do. This guide provides you with the answers and tips for diagnosing the issue and getting it resolved quickly.
Check the charge from your BMW alternator
When the battery warning light is illuminated on your BMW, it's important to first check whether your BMW alternator is supplying adequate charge. A simple test of your car battery with a multimeter can quickly tell you whether the charging system is working correctly. If it isn't, you may need to replace the alternator or contact our BMW mechanic for further help.
Check your battery cables and connectors
Before attempting to diagnose your BMW's battery warning light, you should check the condition of the battery cables and connectors. Be sure there are no corrosion or debris on them as this can cause a loss of electrical connection. If necessary, clean the connections with a wire brush and check the tightness before moving on to the next step.
Ensure that the alternator’s output is up to standard
Ideally, this test should be left to a trained professional mechanic such as our BMW mechanics. To make sure your BMW is operating correctly, it's important that the alternator is producing enough electricity for the car to run properly. To do this, you'll need to measure the voltage output of your alternator with a multimeter. Once you've done this, compare the results with what your BMW manual recommends - the reading should be at least 13.8 volts. If it's lower or higher than that, then it might be time to replace your alternator.
Check Your BMW's fuses
If the battery warning light comes up on your BMW, before you consider replacing the alternator it's important to check all of the relevant fuses and the condition of your battery. First, check if any of your fuses have blown - they're usually found in fuse boxes near the front or side of your engine. Also, inspect your car battery and see if it needs topping up or if it needs replacing. If none of these potential problems are present, then you may need to move onto testing your alternator voltage with a multimeter. Better yet, book a alternator test on your BMW with us by booking online.
Perform a BMW diagnostics
Getting a BMW diagnostics is a specialist service and should Definitely only be performed by a trained mechanic. If you’ve checked the fuse box, the electrical system and the battery, but the battery warning light still won’t go away, then it may be time to perform a computer diagnostic test with a diagnostics tool. A scan tool reads codes stored in your BMW’s computer system to identify potential problems with your car’s electrical components. You can book a BMW diagnostics from our North West garage that has dealt with BMW diagnostics for over 20 years.
<< Return to news
