95 Legacy Battery and Brake light on.

[rdodson4]

My 1995 Subaru Legacy L sedan (AWD Automatic) now has the Battery light
and the Brake light on all the time. This started yesterday, I figured
it was my alternator going bad.....but I checked the Batt voltage (12v)
and the output from the Alt (not with a meter, but an indicator tester
that showed full output). I removed the batt cables and cleaned the
posts. I noticed that when I placed the cables back on the batt I
could hear something activating (it sounds somewhere near the rear of
the car) It sounds like a large relay clicking. It is just the sound
of one click. I tried this several times and each time I connect the
batt cables I get this "one click" sound. Does anyone have any
ideas? As soon as I get some free time and a helper I will try to
locate where the clicking sound is coming from.... I'm guessing it has
someting to do with the ABS system. I'm not sure why the Battery
light is coming on or if it is connected to the Barke light on.
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[mulder]

My 1995 Subaru Legacy L sedan (AWD Automatic) now has the Battery light
and the Brake light on all the time. This started yesterday, I figured
it was my alternator going bad.....but I checked the Batt voltage (12v)
and the output from the Alt (not with a meter, but an indicator tester
that showed full output). I removed the batt cables and cleaned the
posts. I noticed that when I placed the cables back on the batt I
could hear something activating (it sounds somewhere near the rear of
the car) It sounds like a large relay clicking. It is just the sound
of one click. I tried this several times and each time I connect the
batt cables I get this "one click" sound. Does anyone have any
ideas? As soon as I get some free time and a helper I will try to
locate where the clicking sound is coming from.... I'm guessing it has
someting to do with the ABS system. I'm not sure why the Battery
light is coming on or if it is connected to the Barke light on.
Thanks for any suggestions.

There may be bad diodes in the alternator, you won't be able to
diagnose this with a voltmeter. A shop can check for bad diodes with a
scope. Bad diodes will allow result in the alternator output not being
properly filtered and this can cause symptoms such as warning lights
coming on or other electrical/electronic devices in the car acting
abnormally.

 

[rdodson4]

Thank you very much: Your suggestion was right on the money. I took
the alternator off and had it tested. The tech at the auto shop said
it did appear to be a problem with the diodes. I bought a rebuilt
alternator, installed it, took it for a test drive........All is well
again with my subaru. thanks.