The battery light on my 96 Cavalier 2.4L stays on all the time. The battery is charging fine, the car starts, and all electrics work, so it's not the alternator. Does it sound like the voltage regulator? Is there a risk if I drive the car with the battery light on?

About 2 hours after the light came on (permanently), the ignition switch burned out. I have replaced the ignition switch, but the battery light stays on. Could a bad voltage regulator have fried my ignition switch? The Cavalier has a habit of blowing ignition switches anyway, so it may be unrelated.

Thanks for your help.

 

The voltage regulator is in the alternator. If the light is on either the battery is bad or the alternator is. The is no way you can ASSUME the alternator is good based on what you are saying. It needs to be checked correctly. With a alternator voltage is no where near as important as amperage.

 

Advance auto parts can do a free check of your battery and alternator and let you know if either are going bad.They have a portable tester they can whell out to your car and hook up.I've done this when my alternator went bad jump starting my other car and my light came on.

Although it's not reccomended for modern fuel injected cars,in the past you could pull off the negative cable of the battery and if your car stayed running your alternator was usually ok.

 

im with MDtahoe have it checked, with the regulator being built in the alt it gets hotter and is subject to more abuse. it could be charging one minute and not the next, or your battery could have weak cells. especially if you have any type of aftermarket electronics or amps.

 

Thanks for your help, guys. The Cavalier eventually died completely. I got it checked out, and the diodes in the alternator were fried. A new alternator has fixed the problem.

Thanks again.