TL;DR version: My battery light is still coming on despite replacing the battery and alternator. Help?
Two weeks ago, the battery light on my 2005 Element came on. I had it tested at my local Autozone and they deemed that the alternator was going on it. Foolishly, I drove it to work the next day with the intent of leaving early and working on removing the alternator to replace it. On my way home, my instruments died and I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I pulled over and my car completely died. Upon inspection, the smoke was coming from the alternator. I had my car towed the short distance to my house and got to work disassembling.
After removing the power steering pump, I realized that the connector from the wiring harness was melted. I tracked down a connector in good condition at a local junkyard and spliced it. I reassembled everything and took the car for a drive. The speedometer & odometer don't seem to work and the check engine light is on. The battery light came back on after a few minutes of driving. I brought it to a mechanic, he tested the battery, fuses, and connections and suggested it was the alternator.
Back to Autozone. They test the alternator twice and confirm it is bad. They replace it and confirm that the new alternator is good. I install the new one and take her for a test drive. Battery light comes on again. Back to Autozone. They try to test the battery and it is low, suggesting it might have gotten damaged by being dead. They also check the 4 Check Engine codes, all of which are sensors. (For the curious: P0340, P0135, P0141, and P0498... )
Off to Walmart for a new battery. (Luckily under warranty as the old one was only from this past February.) Take her for a drive, about 5 miles with no light. Idle for about 5 minutes and lo and behold, battery light again.
FYI, Positive lead on the alternator looks good, the battery terminals are clean. She seems to run with nothing out of the ordinary, but I haven't tried to push her to go up hills for fear of doing more harm.
I'm at my wit's end trying to diagnose this. Wondering if this is the sign to set my Elle to pasture. Does anyone have any suggestion what to check next?
Two weeks ago, the battery light on my 2005 Element came on. I had it tested at my local Autozone and they deemed that the alternator was going on it. Foolishly, I drove it to work the next day with the intent of leaving early and working on removing the alternator to replace it. On my way home, my instruments died and I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I pulled over and my car completely died. Upon inspection, the smoke was coming from the alternator. I had my car towed the short distance to my house and got to work disassembling.
After removing the power steering pump, I realized that the connector from the wiring harness was melted. I tracked down a connector in good condition at a local junkyard and spliced it. I reassembled everything and took the car for a drive. The speedometer & odometer don't seem to work and the check engine light is on. The battery light came back on after a few minutes of driving. I brought it to a mechanic, he tested the battery, fuses, and connections and suggested it was the alternator.
Back to Autozone. They test the alternator twice and confirm it is bad. They replace it and confirm that the new alternator is good. I install the new one and take her for a test drive. Battery light comes on again. Back to Autozone. They try to test the battery and it is low, suggesting it might have gotten damaged by being dead. They also check the 4 Check Engine codes, all of which are sensors. (For the curious: P0340, P0135, P0141, and P0498... )
Off to Walmart for a new battery. (Luckily under warranty as the old one was only from this past February.) Take her for a drive, about 5 miles with no light. Idle for about 5 minutes and lo and behold, battery light again.
FYI, Positive lead on the alternator looks good, the battery terminals are clean. She seems to run with nothing out of the ordinary, but I haven't tried to push her to go up hills for fear of doing more harm.
I'm at my wit's end trying to diagnose this. Wondering if this is the sign to set my Elle to pasture. Does anyone have any suggestion what to check next?
