Why Is My Nissan Battery Light On?
November 5, 2020
You're driving down the road when all of a sudden, you see what looks like an illuminated brick on your dashboard ‐ one with a plus sign on one side and a negative sign on the other. Your Nissan's battery light is on, but what does that mean? Learn about the battery in your Nissan and how you might be able to troubleshoot the dashboard light at home.
What Does a Car Battery Do?
Standard vehicles generally have a 12-volt battery with six cells, each with 2.1 volts when fully charged. The battery provides energy to virtually every electrical component of your Nissan ‐ from the ignition and engine control units to the headlights, radio, and interior lights. If the battery completely dies or fails to recharge, your car will be unable to function ‐ and the battery light on your Nissan will come on.
Causes of Battery Light on Your Nissan
When that battery light comes on when starting your car, don't panic! Its entirely normal for this to happen when you first start your Nissan, and it should turn off after a few seconds. However, if it doesn't't go away, a few different things may be going on.
Remember that caution always comes first if you're attempting to troubleshoot the problem yourself. Consider wearing rubber gloves and goggles if you're going to lift the hood and investigate a battery issue. And before you start to tinker, remember to first disconnect the battery cables.
Bad/Weak Battery
The average 12-volt Nissan car battery has a lifespan of between three and five years, so the battery light on your Nissan might indicate that you simply have a weak or old battery. This is especially common if you live in a warm climate, as batteries fade faster in hotter temperatures. A dying battery will typically trigger the battery light on your dashboard. However, other factors can cause the battery light to illuminate, too. You can determine if a dying battery is the cause by testing the voltage with a multimeter. A good voltage reading is between 12.4 and 12.7 volts. If the reading is lower than 12.2 volts, the battery most likely needs to be replaced. Don't have a multimeter and don't feel like buying one? Stop by a participating Nissan dealer near you for a complimentary battery inspection.*
Bad Alternator and Alternator Belt
The alternator keeps the battery fully charged when you're driving, and the belt connects the alternator, engine, and accessories. Alternators generally last between five and seven years or about 100,000-150,000 miles. Once the alternator starts to go, it cant keep the battery charged, which could trigger the battery light. If the alternator completely dies, the power that is left in the battery will only last you a few more minutes. If the alternator is exhausted, you'll have to replace it.
The alternator belt helps receive and distribute power from the alternator. However, the alternator belt can crack, come loose, or break with age. As a result, your alternator cant properly function, and the battery wont receive the energy it needs. The only solution is to replace the alternator belt.
Corrosion at the Battery Terminals
If you get under the hood and see a white-ish, crusty, or powdery substance where the battery cables meet at the posts, its a good sign that there's corrosion. Corrosion could be blocking the flow of electricity, which means the alternator cant do its job and the battery light will stay on.
Luckily, cleaning your battery terminals is simple! Put on gloves, disconnect the battery cables by following instructions in your owners manual, and use a toothbrush and a mixture of one tablespoon of baking soda mixed with one water cup to clean the battery posts and terminals.
Loose Battery Cables
The battery cables should fit tightly around the battery terminals to have a good connection. When there isn't good contact between the cables and the battery terminals, your Nissans battery light may come on. To fix this, ensure the battery cable terminal is as far down on the battery post as possible. Then, grab a wrench or pliers and tighten the nut on each terminal until it fits snuggly.
Too Many Accessories In Use
Think of all the things that require power while driving ‐ air conditioning, radio, headlights, power steering, and GPS to name just a few. If your battery is fully charged and your alternator is working as it should, the number of accessories you use when driving shouldn't't cause the battery light to come on.
However, suppose there are alternator and battery issues such as a bad belt or a dying battery. In that case, the number of electrical accessories you use can quickly drain the battery and cause the battery light to illuminate.
If the battery light does come on, try turning off non-essential accessories. This wont fix your battery issue, but it might buy you some power and time, and increase the distance you can drive before the battery completely dies. Try and make it home, or better yet, to your local Nissan dealership to have a new battery installed.
The Bottom Line
Your Nissan battery light might be on for various reasons, and its best to consult your owners manual and a Nissan dealer to ensure you can get to the root of the problem. A dead battery can end up being more than an inconvenience!
Thankfully, participating Nissan dealers offer a complimentary battery diagnostic test as part of our multi-point inspection.* If it turns out that you need a new battery, we have the right one for your Nissan vehicle! Nissan Genuine Batteries are designed to meet your vehicles original specifications and come with an 84-month Limited Warranty to help get you back on the road in no time at all!**