As you switch on your car, you notice something unusual on the dashboard; you see a notification icon of a battery with a lightning bolt on it or a text that reads “Battery Saver Active.” You may wonder what does it imply and what do you have to do?
Battery Saver Active message indicates that your battery power charge has dropped to dangerous levels and must be addressed quickly. This is monitored by a sensor linked to your battery’s negative terminal.
Once it detects an inadequate charge on your battery, it’ll turn off all non-essential items, including the entertainment unit within your car, air conditioning, other electrical accessories, and redirect the limited power to essential components.
This article will explore the issue, its possible causes, and how to fix it. Read on to learn more!
Table of Contents
What Is Battery Saver Active?
Battery Saver Active mode is a clever mechanism designed to maximize battery life when your automobile’s charging system fails. Your car’s onboard computer, the Electronic Control Module (ECM), senses your charging system’s voltage, calculated by your battery current sensor.
This intelligent system was designed to maximize battery life and running time while your car is not getting enough electric charge. Once its sensor senses a malfunction, it’ll turn off non-essential devices such as the air conditioning system, stereo, and other components.
What Causes The Battery Saver Light To Illuminate?
The battery saver feature is primarily activated by a drop in your battery voltage or repeated discharging from your battery. It might be triggered by a damaged battery, poor battery contacts, a malfunctioning alternator, or a defective battery sensor.
Below is a thorough list of the underlying reasons that triggered your automobile’s “Battery Saver Active” light.
Bad Battery
One probable explanation is that your car battery is no longer performing correctly. Whenever this occurs, you’ll discover that your vehicle becomes slouchy. It’s usually a sign of a battery problem. Over most cars, the usual working band of a battery is around 13 and 14 volts.
Whenever the charge falls under 11.7 volts, your battery sensor detects it and switches its power-saving mechanism. Once triggered, it disables all non-essential features, leaving just those required for the proper operation of your vehicle. You can get your battery tested by using a multimeter to identify this problem.
Determine the voltage to check whether the issue is indeed your battery. If you’re unsure, you can get it examined to see whether or not your car requires a new one.
How to Fix It?
When you have determined that your battery is the source of the problem, it must be replaced. Depending on your car and area, a new one would cost approximately $120. If you’re in a financial bind and cannot afford it right now, you can purchase an excellent used one. You can always get decent service from a used battery, yet only as a temporary fix.
Failing Alternator
Due to a significant electrical or mechanical problem, your alternator might cease charging your battery, resulting in this battery-saver notification to illuminate. When this indicator appears while driving, the problem is most likely a loose connection or a damaged alternator.
A bad alternator could be examined with a multimeter. With your engine and car accessories turned on, the voltage between your battery terminals shouldn’t dip under 13 volts. Most technicians have improved instruments for testing alternator functioning, which allows you to make a good choice before replacing it.
How to Fix It?
When your alternator’s the problem, you should have a skilled technician check it to see whether it’s defective before replacing it. An alternator is an essential component of your car, and you must guarantee that it’s operational.
Faulty Battery Cables
Even though your battery cable connections seem to be in excellent condition, they might sometimes create problems. Remove them and inspect them to ensure they are in perfect working order or that they must be replaced.
To maintain a solid electrical contact on your battery terminal, they can be cleaned using a wire brush and apply anti-corrosion solution on all terminals to prevent corrosion from forming.
How to Fix It?
What seems to be a more significant issue is occasionally caused by poor or loose cables. Sometimes all that is required is tightening a few bolts and nuts around your battery connections and alternator. These wires might need to be replaced in other circumstances.
Malfunctioning Sensor
After an alternator or battery replacement, your battery sensor could be defective or improperly fitted in rare circumstances. It’ll detect incorrect data and throw a false reading that your battery isn’t performing optimally.
How to Fix It?
You may have a bad battery sensor or just improperly fitted. When you notice your battery-saver system is activated after replacing your alternator or battery, it’s probably that the sensor wasn’t correctly reinstalled.
Your battery sensor should be connected to your negative battery terminal and the alternator wire to work correctly.
How To Switch Off The Battery Saver Light?
The approach for switching off your battery saver light might vary depending on your vehicle. In your automobile owner’s handbook, look for the particular method for your car’s make and model. In this manner, you can ensure that you are doing the proper procedures.
Switching off your battery saver is usually as simple as flicking a switch or pushing a button. However, in certain vehicles, more than one action might be required. So be sure to read your owner’s handbook thoroughly.
After switching off your battery-saving light, you should start your engine and run it for around 30 minutes before switching your car back off. This can aid in the recharge of your battery. You can also run some of your vehicle’s electrical components or accessories to ensure they operate correctly.
Can You Drive With A Battery Saver Light On?
Your Battery Saver Active warning, although not entirely hazardous, must not be disregarded. You might be able to drive your automobile; however, depending on what caused this notification sign to appear, you could get stuck.
Whenever any of your car’s dashboard warning lights are on, We always advise avoiding driving your vehicle until the issue is determined and resolved.
Conclusion
The Battery Saver technology is a beneficial solution to avoid being stranded in the inconvenient circumstance of having a dead or dying car battery.
Your battery is an essential component of your vehicle. It must remain in an excellent functioning state for everything to operate correctly. If you detect a problem, get it examined by a trained technician and, if required, replace it right away!
FAQs
What are the signs of a bad battery?
Five telltale signs that your car battery Is already bad
- Weak headlights. If your battery fails, it’ll be unable to correctly power your car’s electrical components, even your headlights.
- If you switch your key, you’ll hear a clicking sound.
- Engine cranking slowly.
- Requires depressing the accelerator pedal to start.
- Backfiring.
How to know if it’s a bad battery or a bad alternator?
If your vehicle won’t start or cranks and starts more slowly than before, it’s time to get your jumper wires and perform a jump-start. If your car starts and the engine runs but stops, it’s most likely a battery issue. If your vehicle quickly stops, it’s most likely due to a faulty alternator.
