Ever wondered about a brake light and battery light on same time Hyundai issue?
Perhaps you are driving when suddenly, the brake and battery lights turn on immediately. Why would this happen?
Do keep in mind that your vehicle comes with a number of sensors that monitor all systems. These are also responsible for making sure various components are performing as they should.
Thus, when you see the brake light and battery light on, this means that there are issues with the braking system, as well as the battery charging component.
If you notice that these warning lights turn on at once – and at the same time – keep reading to know what you can do about it.
Battery Light And Brake Light On At Same Time Hyundai Problem
It is not very common that your warning lights such as the battery and brake light will come on at the same time. But when this happens, it is highly likely because of your alternator that is beginning to fail.
The battery may still charge, yet it may not be able to charge at the optimal voltage of a minimum of 13 volts.
There are also some faults with the braking system that may arise that can lead to a loose connection, malfunctioning voltage regulator, and higher power consumption.
In a nutshell, there are certain reasons why the brake and battery lights turn on immediately. These include:
- Alternator problems
- Voltage regulator issues
- Faulty braking system
- Damaged wiring or loose connection
Now, let’s discuss these issues more thoroughly.
1. Alternator Problems
When you have the brake and battery light on simultaneously, it could mean that the alternator is to blame.
What you can do is to test the alternator first. It should be an easy task by following certain steps. The output may go from 13 volts up to 15.5 volts, and this is based on the model of your vehicle.
- First, get your voltmeter
- Check if the terminals of your battery are clean
- Connect your voltmeter to your battery terminals
- With the engine off, check if you are getting a 12.5 up to 12.8-volt reading
- Then, turn the radio on, as well as your headlights and other electrical components
- The reading you should get must be the same as before
- If your reading ends up being lower, then it means that the alternator undercharges your battery
- However, if it is higher, you are getting an overcharged battery because of the alternator
If you get inconsistent readings or beyond the normal values, you need to check with your car mechanic to obtain the right diagnosis of this issue.
When you have a bad alternator, it means that it tends to undercharge or overcharge the battery. Moreover, it may fail completely and stop charging the battery. This is why you won’t be able to drive your car at an optimal level, yet you can still drive it for a short distance then the battery’s charge will get depleted.
The car will stall as the battery loses power because it was undercharged by your alternator. Yet, if the alternator overcharges the battery, this will damage the battery cells and cause the fuse to blow out.
And lastly, if the alternator does not work at all, this will stop any charging function to the battery. So your vehicle will stall. Even after jump-starting the vehicle, it will quickly die because of a lack of electric power delivered to the battery.
Fixing the alternator can go from $200 to $300. This also depends on the model and age of your vehicle.
2. Voltage regulator concerns
When the brake and battery lights turn on at once, it means that the voltage regulator may be failing. It is important to note that your voltage regulator makes sure that the circuit is getting maximum voltage.
So, when the voltage regulator fails, it tends to either underload or overload the alternator. This will cause the systems to function poorly. Hence, the battery light turns on, which means the charging system has a problem. You will have to replace the regulator so you can get it to provide the right load to your circuits.
3. Damaged wiring
When there is a faulty or damaged wiring, this will cause the ECU report to give you a faulty reading. Thus, the brake and battery light tends to turn on. Moreover, the wires will eventually degrade and get worse over time. This is why you should check the wire harness from your battery. Any loose connection or damaged wire will lead to a short and wreak havoc to the basic components of your vehicle.
You also need to check the battery’s terminals. Be sure these are clean and the connectors are tight and secure.
4. Braking system issues
This is not a very common problem, yet it can happen – this is why it can also trigger the battery light to turn on, as well as the brake light.
So, if you have checked the first three issues and did not find any fault, then you should inspect the wiring of your brake lines. It should be free from damage to avoid any issue with the braking system over time.
What To Do When Battery Light And Brake Light Turn On?
When you notice that both lights turn on while driving, you should pull over safely on the side of the road to check the different relevant components.
You should avoid driving continuously when these lights turn on since it is unsafe, especially when critical areas trigger these lights. Turn the engine off and check under your hood for a burning smell or leaks. If there is a burning smell, it means that your alternator is likely to be broken.
Inspect the brake fluid level and it should not be low. A brake light turning on could mean the brake fluid needs to be topped up.
And also, be sure that your battery does not have loose connections. The terminals should be free from corrosion and without any damage to the wiring.
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Wrap Up
Overall, when the battery light and brake light are on, you should check key areas such as the alternator, voltage regulator, brake fluid, and wiring to your battery terminals. By doing so, you can determine what area is responsible for the lights turning on to know what action needs to be taken to fix it.
But most importantly, stop driving when these lights are on to make sure you can get the problem fixed correctly and spare yourself from safety issues.