[Mike (not a mechanic)]

The battery light (charging system) keeps coming on in my 2013 Town & Country. I have been trying to diagnose the cause for about a week now and I’m stumped.

The battery is receiving a charge from the alternator (14.5 volts) when the vehicle is running.

The battery light is not always on, it seems to be intermittent and mostly turns in after I have been driving for an hour or two.

I had the battery tested and The CCA were low so I replaced the battery; light went off once new battery was installed for 2 days, now it’s back on.

Any ideas what the problem could be? New battery, and alternator is delivering a charge, I’m stumped.

UPDATE: Since changing the battery the battery light has gone on twice; both times the charging system seems to have been working just fine. And for the last 3 days there has been no battery light and I checked today and no trouble P6022 trouble code. Bottom line, the van seems to be working good as new again. So maybe it was the battery and just took a few data for the trouble code to go away? I do gave an appointment booked at the garage but thinking I don’t need that anymore.

 

[Sienile]

Battery light coming on after the change suggests the problem is still there. Since its intermittent like this I really think it's either damaged wiring or the brushes in the alternator sticking in their bores (what happened on BOTH of my bad alternators). It's still possible the circuit inside the PCM is having issues like a broke solder joint on the field control relay.

What really sucks is that it's not constant and every time you test it, it checks normal. Things like that are real hard to catch.

 

[Mike (not a mechanic)]

UPDATE: Since changing the battery the battery light has gone on twice; both times the charging system seems to have been working just fine. And for the last 3 days there has been no battery light and I checked today and no trouble P6022 trouble code. Bottom line, the van seems to be working good as new again. So maybe it was the battery and just took a few data for the trouble code to go away? I do gave an appointment booked at the garage but thinking I don’t need that anymore.

Update2: So after putting in the new battery, I ended up taking the van to a local mechanic, and he hooked up the diagnostic computer, confirmed then erased the codes and asked me to drive the van until I get the code or battery light goes on again. It has been 4 weeks and no battery light or trouble code. I’m thinking it was the old battery after all.

 

[Mike (not a mechanic)]

Update2: So after putting in the new battery, I ended up taking the van to a local mechanic, and he hooked up the diagnostic computer, confirmed then erased the codes and asked me to drive the van until I get the code or battery light goes on again. It has been 4 weeks and no battery light or trouble code. I’m thinking it was the old battery after all.

Update3: Murphy’s law... on Friday we took the van out all day and on our way home, after the van has been running for almost 3 hours, the battery light went on again! I quickly pulled over and checked the voltage and the battery was charging just fine 14.5 volts. This morning Monday Feb 1st the van started up with a loud screech, then the battery light went on and the headlights were flickering. Tested it again later and everything seemed fine. Drive it about 1mile and the light goes back on, check again and charging fine. Got it home and checked again and noticed that the voltage was constantly fluctuating 14.5, 14.72, 14.60, 14.68 and just kept jumping between these numbers. When the battery light is off it’s pretty steady at 14.48. I think I need an alternator.

 

[Tvbob]

Check ground strap from engine block to car body..OR add a new one

 

[Sienile]

It may be the alternator, but nothing has given a definitive "this is it". Fluctuating voltages are normal in the range you mentioned. Anything above 15 is overcharging, below 13.7 is undercharging. Depending on battery usage anything in that range is fine.

However, noticing it hold a steady voltage when you are certain the system is working right does suggest there might be an issue with the regulation circuit. This could be the parts inside the alternator, inside the PCM, or wiring. A different user s couple weeks ago found that they had issues because of a bad connector going to the alternator. And as I said before, my issue turned out to be a defective new alternator.

 

[stratdude83]

Hi Mike, I had a similar issue with an intermittent battery warning light and fluctuating voltage (12.8 to 15.5 Vdc) on my 2012 T&C below. Seems to me that it was caused by a slipping alternator decoupler pulley. I would try the same tests I did to see if there is a major difference. I also found my ground strap from the chassis to the engine cradle on the passenger side of the engine bay was completely corroded away. I would check that on your vehicle as well. Good luck

(Issue Resolved) Intermittent Battery Warning Light on...

 

[kaylamueller23]

Hello,

I am having the same issue. 2011 chrysler t&c. I have gone through 3 alternators now. My battery light just came back on again. & now my dashboard says, "no fuse". Any ideas? I do not think it is the alternator since this is my 3rd one within 5 months. All of my fuses are fine.