The other day I got the red battery message followed by "conv features unavail". I had replaced the batteries about 6mths ago and did research to see a common cause was the voltage reg. So I ordered that and put it on, pretty simple. BUT the message remains!!! It comes on after the car has been cranked for about 5-10sec.

I stopped by Autozone to have them run a battery and alternator test and the rear main tested at 12.5v/91% charged. Aux bat tested at 13.4v/100% charged. When he tried to start the alternator test it kept reading as if the car wasn't cranked so he couldn't run that part of the test.

So any thoughts? I guess maybe the alternator or the BCM is my next logical step to solve this problem. I need to drive the car about 160~ miles to BIP for a trunk tank install but would like to solve this before taking it over to avoid any further issues like loosing all power in the middle of nowhere on the interstate.

Thanks for any help you all can provide.

 

Just had this problem myself and it was the alternator. You can get a remanufactured OEM Bosch alternator from FCP for $255. Good luck.

 

Yeah thats what i'm thinking. While at Autozone they looked up a reman and it was like $160 but not sure it was a Bosch.

 

Autozone alternators are lucky to make it past the first year of service. They're built with the cheapest parts around.

 

Just went through this past week. Got battery, ESP, and abs codes. Ended up being aux battery and alternator. Rear battery wasn't charging and showing 10.8v on the dash. Now its back to 14.0v

 

If you don't drive much, good to get a "smart" charger that keeps your battery voltage where is should be. Ones that deal with AGM batteries is helpful. I have found them to be diabolical to my own old-fashioned charger. Once I purchase a Genius charger, all's well again.

 

i have a ctek charger as well during the colder months to charge when i dont drive it. But having oem aux battery and others having alternator issues, it was time.