battery light

[jecampnelln500]

hi, new guy here. I have a 2001 740i with a battery light on but the alternator is putting out 14.2 any help . PS, I just had it worked on for some small oil leaks ????
Jeff

[johnnyBgood]

Do you have any start up issues, how old is the battery...has it gone dead anytime recently?

Your alternator can be putting out 14 volts, but the battery still could be faulty, unable to hold a charge......you can have it load tested at the auto parts store....Advanced Auto Parts....etc.

johnny,

[jecampnelln500]

thanks Johnny
if i leave the car for about 5 days the battery will go dead. I took it to auto zone and they tested it and the batt was OK . I drove it today 150 miles and after I got home the batt was at 12.6 / could this be a gorund problem.

[johnnyBgood]

Originally Posted by jecampnelln500

thanks Johnny
if i leave the car for about 5 days the battery will go dead. I took it to auto zone and they tested it and the batt was OK . I drove it today 150 miles and after I got home the batt was at 12.6 / could this be a gorund problem.

Hard to tell....if the Battery is 3-5 years old...& not driven for long periods of time..... your battery still may be bad...BMW's are known to have some low voltage drawing power...example....the interior ambient air sensor fan runs a little after you shut down your car....I know on older model cars, you can check for a short by disconnecting the negative battery cable & attaching a 12volt test light from the unattached neg. batt. cable to ground....with everything turned off on your car, the test light should not come on, if any, very dim & for a short time, if the light comes on somewhat bright, then you have a short....then to find it, you then start pulling fuses to find it...

[jecampnelln500]

thanks if the batt is bad will this make the batt light come on