Most ICE cars come with 12-volt batteries that power all the electrical components like the radio, headlights, taillights, interior lights, air conditioning systems, horns, fuse boxes, etc. This is enough load to drain the battery within the shortest time without recharging it.
Auto manufacturers install alternators to charge and prevent the battery from running out of charge. The alternator is connected to the engine via a serpentine belt.
Manufacturers designed the alternator to regulate voltage (14.2 to 14.7), higher than the battery voltage (12.4 to 12.8). This will enable the alternator to recharge the battery while restoring electric flow to all electrical appliances in the car.
Suppose, for any reason, the battery is not holding charge or can’t supply the needed electric flow to power all electrical appliances. In that case, the car computer will display a battery-saver active warning on the driver information center.
This article will explain what battery saver active on a car means, its causes, and probable solutions to rectify the problem.
What Does A Battery Saver Active Mean?
A Battery saver active means the battery is weak, is not holding a charge, or is running down. And the car computer is shutting down some electrical appliances that may drain the battery life and leave you stranded.
Battery saver active warning on the driver information center means your battery and alternator cannot provide the needed power flow to maintain certain systems.
A battery-saver active system is an essential mechanism that maximizes the battery current when the battery and the alternator are not providing adequate electric flow. Your powertrain control module works in harmony with the battery sensor to sense and calculate your vehicle charging system.
It maximizes your battery running and prevents a sudden shutdown. But first, let’s look at common causes of a battery saver active on Chevy Cruze and other vehicle models.
What Causes Battery Saver Active?
Like several system issues in a car, a few factors can cause the powertrain control module (PCM) to project a battery saver active warning message on your dashboard. Here are the common causes that may trigger the warning light.
Bad Battery
One of the common causes of a battery saver active on Chevy Malibu is a weak battery. So, whenever the warning light appears on your dashboard, try and inspect the battery life.
If the battery becomes weak and discharges 12.4 volts or below, the battery sensor will report this to the engine control unit. The car computer will shut down non-essential systems, leaving active only those needed for optimal vehicle movement.
Does battery saver active mean I need a new battery? If you suspect the battery, you can test it with a multimeter to know if it’s discharging the needed voltage. Examine the battery and see if you need a new one or if the culprit is from any of the following parameters.
Lousy Alternator
Some issues may arise and prevent the alternator from charging the battery. As a result, the ECM will trigger the battery saver active on the Chevy Impala or any vehicle model. If this warning light pops up while driving, you most likely have a bad alternator or a loose battery connection.
Lose or Lousy battery cables.
Loose or bad battery cables can cause intermittent electric flow to the car accessories. Corrosions can also be the culprit. However, even though your battery connections seem okay, they may cause issues.
Cleaning the battery terminals and cables and applying an anti-rust may be all you need to fix the problem. This will also prevent the battery cables from rusting in the nearest future.
Lousy Battery sensor
The vehicle battery sensor regulates and measures battery-electric flow and the net voltage to the car battery. When the sensor notices that the electric flow from the battery is below 12.4, it’ll relate the info to the car computer, which will trigger the battery saver active on the Chevy Traverse dashboard.
The battery sensor also measures and regulates the net voltage. That is, the electric flow supplied by the alternator and the current drawn by your car accessories.
A constant negative current can also trigger a warning message on the driver information center (DIC). By negative current, car accessories are draining more current than the voltage transmitting from the alternator.
Now that we’ve seen the causes of the battery saver being active on GMC Acadia and other vehicle models, what’s next? Let’s see how to proffer solutions to this problem.
Battery Saver Mode Fixes
Since there are several causes of battery-saver active warning messages, there are also ways to fix and prevent it from appearing anytime soon.
Replace malfunctioning sensor
If your scan tool shows the battery sensor is malfunctioning, it may mean the sensor is not properly fitted or the battery sensor is bad. If the battery saver active warning light pops up after replacing your battery or the alternator, there’s the likelihood you did not install the sensor properly.
The sensor is connected to the negative battery terminal. So, it could mean you did not install it properly. Cross-check your connections to rectify this issue. Also, you may have to sandpaper the negative battery terminal before bolting it to the vehicle frame.
However, you may need to replace the sensor if the warning light pops up when driving without prior work on the charging systems. But before replacing the battery sensor, ensure the battery and alternator are in good condition.
Tightening loose connections
A common cause of battery-saver active warning messages on the DIC is loose or poor battery connections. Tightening a few bolts on the terminals or cleaning battery terminal corrosion is all you need to rectify the problem. However, you may have to replace the terminals in some cases when the corrosion is grave.
Replace a defective battery.
A dead battery is another primary cause of a battery saver active warning message on the ignition. If you see a battery saver active and the car won’t start, the car battery is likely the cause.
You’ll need to test the battery to confirm if it’s truly the culprit or if the alternator is the cause. Here’s how to test a car battery.
- Turn off all electrical components in your car and switch off the ignition
- Grab your digital multimeter and switch it to 20V DC
- Connect the black probe on the negative battery terminal and the red probe on the positive battery terminal
- Note the outcome. A good battery voltage should not be below 12.4V.
If you have anything below that, the battery is below the needed voltage and needs recharging or replacing. You can check out this article on how to test a car battery. It covers several methods to test a car battery.
Replace lousy alternator
A bad alternator is another culprit you should watch out for. If every other probable cause seems okay, test the alternator and see if it is the culprit. Here’s how to test an alternator.
- Switch off the engine and all electrical components
- Grab your multimeter and set it to between 15-20V DC
- Clean the battery terminals and ensure there’s no dirt or grime
- Connect the multimeter black probe to the negative battery terminal and the red to the positive terminal. You should have anything around 12.6V.
- Leave the connections and start the car. You should see a 14.2V to 14.7V
- Anything below 14.2V means the alternator is undercharging, and anything above 14.7V means the alternator is overcharging
- Place a load on the vehicle by turning on the headlights, taillights, inside lights, offroad lights, radio, and AC. The voltage shouldn’t drop below 13 volts.
- Turn off the engine and see the reading again. The reading should be more than 12.6V now, showing the alternator is working.
FAQs
Does battery-saver mode mean I need a new battery?
A Chevy battery saver active does not necessarily mean you need a new battery. However, when this warning message appears in your driver information center, the battery is distributing less than the required amount of electric voltage. Several parameters, like a lousy alternator, dead battery, malfunctioning battery sensor, or loose battery connections, can be the culprit.
How do I turn off the battery saver?
Battery saver active message on the driver information center means your car battery is discharging a low amount of electric flow to power the car system. The only proper way to turn off the battery-saver mode is to rectify the problem. It could mean replacing the car battery, alternator, and battery sensor, cleaning battery terminal corrosion, or retightening loose connections.
What does it mean when it says battery saver active on Chevy Malibu?
Whether you have a battery saver active on Pontiac Grand Prix, chevy malibu, or GMC Yukon driver information center, the electric flow has dropped to a level where it can’t carry all electrical systems. As a result, the car computer has to shut down certain system operations to extend the battery life.
How long can you drive your car in battery-saving mode?
There’s no specific time frame on how long you can drive with battery-saver mode. However, if you continue driving with a battery saver active on the driver information center, the engine may shut down within 20 minutes or 2 hours. Therefore, it is ideal to fix the problem once you notice it.
Final Words
Battery saver active is a beneficial technology that prevents cars from shutting down due to a dying battery, bad alternator, or corroded terminals.
Your car battery is a vital component that helps you start the vehicle and keep it running. Without it, the vehicle cannot start. And it has to be in good working condition for optimal operation.
Therefore, if you detect any problem, check the probable causes and solutions above to fix it. If you don’t trust your gut or have the confidence to fix the problem, contact an experienced mechanic to rectify the fault.
