GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

My '03 Vibe went between blinking the battery warning light and lighting it up solid. The battery failed a test (although 2 years old) with the cause suggested as a weak charge system. The battery also went dead when the car sits for 2 weeks. I installed a warranty replacement battery (Costco 800 CCA) and the light still acted up. Volts ignition off 12.8 and running 14.4. Changed the alternator and the light is still on. Volts now 13.2 and 14.8 which seem fine. I'm stumped. Does anyone have a schematic for the light source? Is this a computer problem? The alternator is brand new and I really don't want to pull it to test. A local shop is going to test the original alternator. Help would be appreciated.

Have you or anyone else checked all of the connections related to the alt? My first check would have been the connections... then the regulator... A quick and easy check of the regulator is start the car and let it warm to opperating temp, make sure everything electrical possible is OFF... Check the voltage at the batt.. Should be the 14~v you see. Now, turn on EVERYTHING possible, hazzards, rear defrost and everything else you can think of.. Check your voltage, above 11.5? if not, you may have a regulator problem...

The volts always look good now regardless of load. The alternator supplier thinks one of the three wires in the harness drives that battery warning light. But they are not sure if it goes to the dash direct or involves other logic or onboard computer. Anyone know?

If the regulator and battery are good, then it looks like it could be a wiring problem or perhaps the DRL module.I think some people disable the daytime running lights/auto headlights by cutting that yellow wire going to the DRL module, and then grounding the side of the cut wire that goes to the DRL module. If the other side of the cut wire was also grounded (the side going to the indicator light), then the battery light would stay on. If you haven't done anything to disable the DRLs, then maybe you could try disconnecting the DRL module, just to see if the battery light goes out.

Attached files 015cs.pdf (36 KB) 

I've just noticed that the daytime running lights are out! Anyone know where the DRL module/relay is located? Also, I saw a schematic that says there's a 15amp fuse labelled AM@ in play here. Looking for it as well. Thanks for any help.

Very cool. I just saw the Pontiac version of the diagram too. Where is the DRL relay?

up under the dash, supposedly above the brake pedalthe box with the orange and white label

Thanks very much. I'll try it and see.

The Daytimers came back after cutting the yellow wire at the DRL relay. I haven't grounded it yet as per the documentation I received. Prior to that the new alternator went back to the shop and they reported it had a blown regulator (the same as the failed original). The cut wire also disabled the battery warning light so I can't tell if it helped. Voltages are good and I am contemplating leaving the wire cut and turning the lights on manually.