2G Euro GS - Red battery light

[vodkalover42069]

So I've had this issue for about a week now on my dashboard my battery light is red and my headlights, dash lights, and reverse lights aren't working. I've measured the voltage and it's 15V going to the battery.

I've asked multiple mechanics for their opinion and all of them said something else. One said my battery could be faulty another said it's the alternator and another said it could the the fuses so I'm not really sure where to go from here.

Car starts fine and I have no issues driving it so I wanted to ask here if any of you have had a similar issue with it.

BTW it is a 1999 Eclipse GS with an NA 4g63

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[CKOPOCT]

Assuming everything was working fine up to this point and everything happened at once, it sounds like your alternator is overcharging and that it may have taken out the lighting systems you mentioned. If you've driven the car a lot in the last week I'd bet the sides of your battery are bulging a bit. Check your fuses. Also, take the car directly to your local chain auto parts store and have them check the charging system. If that checks out fine there is more diagnostics checking that will have to be done.

 

[curt-s]

^ This, exactly. It sounds like the voltage regulator is unable to do its job well anymore. I've been there, except mine suddenly jumped to 15.8V.
Early warning signs are voltage instability and inability to regulate, especially when heated

 

[dwb]

I've measured the voltage and it's 15V going to the battery.

Have you revved the engine a bit when checking voltage? It might be going even higher than 15v. 14.5v should be about your max. So I think you're over charging, which will kill the battery and cause some funk with the other electronics. You might even start to smell something fishy, which is your battery boiling over.

If this happens on my 1g, I know it's the alternator. On a 2g I'm not so sure. Is the voltage regulator part of the alternator? Someone else might be able to chime in to clarify.

 

[vodkalover42069]

^ This, exactly. It sounds like the voltage regulator is unable to do its job well anymore. I've been there, except mine suddenly jumped to 15.8V.
Early warning signs are voltage instability and inability to regulate, especially when heated

So i should just replace the alternator gotcha thanks

 

[curt-s]

That will likely be the end result. bench testing isn't always revealing as the alternator can exhibit the signs only when made hot from a running engine.

 

[chrysler kid]

Nah yall are way off

His dash and headlights arent working. His main fuse on the fuse box under the hood for the alternator is blown

Pop the fuse cover off in the engine bay and inspect the fuses

 

[steve]

The alternators used on the Mitsubishi powered DSM's have internal voltage regulators. I believe the 420A has an external regulator.

This does sound like a bad alternator to start with but check the battery too so you don't damage a new alternator by having a bad battery over stress it.

 

[vodkalover42069]

Nah yall are way off

His dash and headlights arent working. His main fuse on the fuse box under the hood for the alternator is blown

Pop the fuse cover off in the engine bay and inspect the fuses

Ok I'll go buy a new fuse today and see how that goes thanks

 

[CKOPOCT]

No. Don't just swap parts assuming that will fix things. Check and diagnose first, then replace what is bad. That's why I said to check your fuses and take it to the store and have them check the charging system.

Just throwing parts at a problem often just ends up with frustration, wasted money, and a persistent problem.