If the light comes on and stays on: check that the battery terminal connections are tight, the alternator drive belt is tight. Borrow a volt meter, set to 20 Vdc and check across the battery terminals while running (should be 13 to 14 volts), if voltage is low, the alternator is not charging. Many auto parts stores will check your system for free (remember they are looking to sell a battery or alternator).
If the light only comes on occasionally: check for parasitic voltage drains (GPS or cell device plugged in, security system, interior light stays on (check at night) after engine is shut off).
Hello Lewis, The only thing that I can think of is to check to make sure the belt that drives the alternator is tight.
Thank you I tested the voltage with my buddy's tester and it was reading 11.8 turned out the alt was a dud so it was replaced for free bc it was only 5 months old and still under warranty thank you for responding !!
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SOURCE: Chevy Malibu Check Battery Light
the problem with my malibu was the plug going to the alternator. i went to the junk yard and cut a plug end off the wiring harness and replaced it on mine and it's been working fine. i don't know why it drains the battery with the broken wire in the plug, but it did. i found the problem by wiggleing the wire while my wife watched the dash for the battery light to go out. ken!
SOURCE: 2002 chevy malibu catalytic converter
You probably have way too much unburned fuel in your exhaust system (how's your mileage?) or possibly a failed oxygen sensor that is giving false information to the computer.
SOURCE: Low voltage, the battery runs low when running the car
What is the voltage you are reading? Is it below 13.2 or so? Also have you checked the current with the engine off to see if something else is working that should not be on. I ran across this twice while working on a truck and car. A relay that was wore out keep trying to close and would drain the battery every couple of months. Sometimes you can hear them clicking or buzzing. Touching them sometimes they are warm or real hot. But that is not a sure sign it is bad. In my Trailblaze they get hot but are ok. Another thougth is the belt on your alt, correctly set to spin it at the right voltage. I have ran across this many times lately with serpatine belts.
SOURCE: 2000 chevy silverado 1500 battery light keeps
When was the alternator replaced? was it a remanufactured alternator? This is common on GM trucks, fluctuating voltage is caused by a faulty alternator voltage regulator. Have the alternator tested, strong possiblityits defective!!Hopefully this helps!!
SOURCE: 2002 Chevy Malibu. ABS light
The abs light will reset every time the vehicle is shut off. The most common cause of the abs light coming on is a bad wheel speed sensor. A scan tool would be the option to locate the fault in the abs system.
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