Measure (with a meter) the voltage of the battery when the car is running. It should be about 14 to 15 volts.
It is possible that the voltage regulator is not working, but there are other possibilities.
I suggest that you take it to O'Reilly's and have them determine if the battery is charging.
There is an amazing cultural factor in our society as to cars. If our home refrigerator goes bad most people call a repair person. Same with the dryer and other items in the home. But for some reason, Bill (not "bill" as all proper names MUST be capitalized) we think of ourselves as mechanics and we do what is called guessing. Places that sell auto parts have opted to support that cultural miasma and offer such services as you indicate. But past checking a tire pressure, could any one of us repair a tire pressure monitor system? Other than to check voltages on a battery with or without the engine running, could any one of us do anything past that? Bill, cars hugely complex machines. It take trained, supervised and certified people to be qualified to repair cars. You can guess here or in an auto parts store, hook up machines for codes that are meaning less but, in the end, only a mechanic can do the required work. Bill, by the way, is not the last question on your statement a question? I think it is. It needs a question mark, Bill.
Going to autozone was your 1st mistake, I drive past one on my way to O'Rielly. Have you checked the belt? The belt may seem tight but maybe just not quite tight enough. I put a NEW alternator in my van (old one seized) the belt still caused it not to sufficiently charge, I was getting enough voltage to charge the batt and run the accessories but not enough to satisfy the batt warning light. I put on a new belt and All's Well! After inspecting the belt, use a volt meter to check the voltage at the battery posts should be 13-14.5
People would be so much better off if they stayed away from Auto Zone. Test your own alternator with an inexpensive volt meter set @ 20 volts, touching the battery terminals with the engine on. IF the alternator is charging properly the volt meter will read between 13.5 - 14.2 volts.
It sounds like you have a fusible link that is blown. Check all of the "big fuses" in the engine compartment fuse box. if your vehicle has fuses on the positive battery cable at the battery that's where I'd start looking first.
Check voltage with car running should be 13.5 to 14.5 volts.If not check connections on the back of the alternator for tightness one may be loose.Make sure battery connections are clean and tight also.
I would test the alternator yourself. There are other things other than voltage output that can cause a battery light (bad ground is an example).
Here is a great video that will show you what to test and how to test it!
If you can drive it for more than ten minutes, chances are your alternator is actually working.
The cables?
Auto zone checked both they said battery was bad but new alternator was good. I put a new battery in and the battery light is still on and the charging has not moved. I have driven several times the battery still doing good. Even with lights on radio going. What is the deal.
what about a code check
