What would cause my Charging System Light to keep coming on if I have replaced my battery and my alternator tests out as still being good?

620

Asked by cpburke31 Jun 30, 2014 at 02:21 PM about the 2011 Chrysler Town & Country

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Driving down the road two days ago my Charging System Light came on, when we pulled into a parking lot a few miles later and turned the van off the van would not start back up, all of the gadgets and radio still worked, however, the van would not try to turn over.  We jumped the van and the airbag light, the traction control light and the charging system light all came on as well as the ABS light started flashing at me.  I pulled the battery, checked it, then replaced it when it tested as bad.  Put the new battery in, drove 30 miles down the road to attempt to make it back home and the charging system light came back on.  Made it all the way home, turned the van off and let it set for a couple of hours.  When we tried to start the van back up, it turned over but all of the lights again came on.  What could be causing the problem for the charging system light to be coming on and all of the other lights as well?

34 Answers

620

Thanks for your response, however, if the alternator has been tested passed the test, how could it still be bad? Not questioning your answer, just not sure how i could have gotten a false positive.

22 people found this helpful.
144,795

Is your engine light on,along with your battery light?

22 people found this helpful.
144,795

Alternator will charge until a bad voltage regulator,that is biult in to it,get,s hot then no charge,yes, parts stores, run it for short period and say it,s good,but not long enuuf to know that it is really bad.

19 people found this helpful.
620

Engine light is not on, just the battery light. When we turned the van off then re-started it, the ABS, traction control and air bag lights came on and the A/C would not cool anymore, however the engine light never came on.

32 people found this helpful.
620

Thanks again for your help, I will look at replacing the alternator and hope that does it.

8 people found this helpful.
2,425

Check for poor connection the lack of a/c is connected the heater controls needing possibly programed

11 people found this helpful.
2,425

Ground side, also the speedometer is the body control module for the van it runs EVERYTHING and could be your drama.

15 people found this helpful.
390

Did you find out what it was? My van is doing to exact same thing! Had the alternator tested and the battery is brand new.

39 people found this helpful.
270

I am having the same problem with my van the charging light keep coming on new battery and alternator it will run for awhile and dats it

26 people found this helpful.
280

I'm having the same problem changed alternator new battery post connector and still have battery light on

28 people found this helpful.
60

I also changed my alternator on my ford exploer yesterday and my battery light came on???

6 people found this helpful.
150

I have the same problem , why r these van such a problem, the diagnostic Reed's there something wrong with the generator in the battery light comes on and off periodically It my turn on for a day and then it may be off for a week

15 people found this helpful.
190

We are having the same issue and when we start it turn on the radio and ac and give it gas the entire dashboard shuts off. The battery and alternator have both been changed. The alternator was warranted so this is the second alternator and we are still having issues

19 people found this helpful.
70

The starter, seems crazy I know but thays what it was on my van

7 people found this helpful.
230

GOT A QUESTION NOT ANSWER...MY BATTERY LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT ON AND JUST CHECKED ALTERNATOR AND PASSED THE TEST..ITS A CHRYSLER SEBRING 2007...WHAT COULD IT BE

23 people found this helpful.
80

The wires connecting my alternator to my battery were corroded and came apart. Cheaper fix...and a possibility.

8 people found this helpful.
130

My 2005 town and country dasboard lights, ac and radio lights would start blinking really bad, car will be stalling and going. Sometimes would not turn the starter. I noticed that by touching the battery ground, with metal; the car would start. I fix all those problems, by connecting a wire from the car chassis, to the ground post on the battery..very tight.

13 people found this helpful.
300

I have a 2011 town and country. Abs light, traction control light, battery light, red lighting bolt light all are on. It completely died on my wife. It would start after I replaced the battery but run at ruff idle and could not drive it over 20mph. the accelerator pedal will not rev the engine or do anything. It slowly gets up to that speed and that's it.Has anyone had this problem. Looking for some serious help

30 people found this helpful.
80

Had the same issue 2 days ago. Dealer saying have to fix alternator before can tell if anything else needs to be fixed $800-900 before knowing anything else could be wrong.

8 people found this helpful.
50

Same issue 2 days ago, but NO lights came on. Had alternator checked out and was told it was working as it should. I didn't need a new alternator, it was just the battery. I hope that was the case! The battery was a little over a year old. Duracell!

5 people found this helpful.
40

My charging light just came in today. Battery is probably 2 years old maybe three. I hope that is the problem. I did get some backing soda and water put itt on the post and cleaned it. Praying it wont be on in the morning.

4 people found this helpful.
120

New battery new alternator new starter car still not keeping a charge

12 people found this helpful.
180

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth, and a select others have the voltage regulator in the computer. Have it tested to see if the diodes (in the alternator) or the regulator (in the computer) are bad. If it is the regulator, changing the alternator WILL NOT FIX the problem. Sorry.

18 people found this helpful.
60

Think it may be connector cable of battery....I'm going get them to check mine out today...cuz my alternator n battery checked out ok....and still having occasional power dead problems when I go to start engine!

6 people found this helpful.
90

Had that happen two years ago. After much diagnostic work, the computer had to be replaced and reflashed at the dealer at a cost of $500, but it worked fine. Fast forward to yesterday, almost 2 years to the date, same issue. Battery light, traction control light, abs light on, then lightning bolt showing low battery and then it died. Would not start. Gave it a jump, got home, doing all the testing again. Hoping it's not the computer again, since of course it only had a one year warranty.

9 people found this helpful.
40

Same thing just happen to me...smh... 2012 T&C... at mechanic now, but don't know if I should just deal with the Mopar service department at the dealership?

4 people found this helpful.
110

Cruising 50 on the highway when Town & Country RPM suddenly jumped to 45000. Battery and traction light came on. Maintained speed until I parked. Then a voltage light came on and rough idle. I shut it down, going to tow it. What's your expert opinion?

11 people found this helpful.
30

My 2012 t&c is doing the same thing, traction control, abs light, air bag, battery light and then the radio turned off? Any clue what it could be should I go to the dealer and just a regular mechanic. Don’t really like our local dealer service department. Could it be the alternator or something

3 people found this helpful.
170

I work for Chrysler and see this from time to time sometimes it is the pcm not seeing the charging/battery voltage. I actually have one in the shop now for the same concern.

17 people found this helpful.

Good evening everyone... can some plz help... my van left my wife stranded...she claims that the traction light and the lighting bulb came on and that turned off.... connected the battery booster on it and it drained it really quick...can some one pl help

90

Don't buy a Chrysler again. The electrical system, among other problems, is on going for me. A new alternator installed by the dealer only lasted one month and left me stranded. The electrical connector was melted!!! I'm going to fix this and sell it, or maybe send it to the junk yard. My 1980 Toyota Tercel is still running after all these years, with only routine maintenance; wheel bearings being the worst. It has over 400,000 miles on it and still gets 28 mpg. Don't buy an American car again, they are crap.

9 people found this helpful.
20

Adam we had exactly the same issue, ABS TRACTION CONTROL And all the other symptoms you described. my wife added oil to the engine and all the issues are gone now.

2 people found this helpful.
10

I am having all the same things happen to my 2015 T&C. Does anyone have a definite answer about what is going on?

1 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

Town & Country

Looking for a Used Town & Country in your area?

CarGurus has 109 nationwide Town & Country listings starting at $4,990.

Postal Code:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    Lisa Klancher
    Reputation
    3,700
  • #2
    dandyoun
    Reputation
    3,280
  • #3
    thejeepdoctor
    Reputation
    3,180
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Dodge Grand Caravan
101 Great Deals out of 1,943 listings starting at $3,995
Used Honda Odyssey
48 Great Deals out of 972 listings starting at $2,495
Used Toyota Sienna
40 Great Deals out of 750 listings starting at $4,200
Used Chevrolet Traverse
31 Great Deals out of 593 listings starting at $3,995
Used Ford Explorer
86 Great Deals out of 2,065 listings starting at $2,999
Used Honda Pilot
40 Great Deals out of 1,271 listings starting at $4,495
Used Chevrolet Tahoe
24 Great Deals out of 911 listings starting at $11,900
Used Dodge Durango
46 Great Deals out of 2,266 listings starting at $5,500
Used Ford Escape
124 Great Deals out of 4,594 listings starting at $1,995
Used Ford Edge
86 Great Deals out of 2,214 listings starting at $2,950
Used GMC Acadia
19 Great Deals out of 649 listings starting at $3,949
Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500
202 Great Deals out of 5,975 listings starting at $2,975

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.