Car won't charge despite new battery and alternator
Even when individual parts like the alternator, starter, and battery are replaced, hidden connection issues can prevent the system from charging as a whole. Difficulty interpreting multimeter readings—such as getting voltage on the positive terminal while the negative stays at zero or dealing with a split in the negative terminal area—stops drivers from tracking down the root cause. This leaves the battery light permanently on despite changing almost everything.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Replacing the battery
- 2Testing the alternator at an auto parts store
- 3Using a circuit light tester
- 4Replacing battery cables
- 5Retesting the charging system with a multimeter
- 6testing components with a multimeter
- 7replacing individual parts like the alternator and battery terminal cables
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I been having charging issues idk if this area where it’s split affects or not?”source ↗
“I am trying to track down why my battery is failing to charge while the engine turns over.”source ↗
“I have done everything I can think of with a multimeter.”source ↗
“As far as I can tell every individual part of the system is operational but it doesn’t charge as a whole.”source ↗
“Still having charging issues tested alternator it passed twice at AutoZone, battery replaced again yesterday still battery light I get reads when I put black probe on positive but the negative stays at zero any advice because I tried almost everything and my light tester does the same thing?”source ↗
“Ok also I have a picture of my negative terminal and it have a split on the screw area can I show u a picture cause I feel it could be that?”source ↗
“Yes I replace it with battery,starter, serpentine belt, belt tensioner still charging issues battery light won’t go away”source ↗
“when I put the black probe on negative to test power components I can’t get reads on it only the positive terminal side it will show the voltage”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 12Intermittent car hesitation with no trouble codes
- 5Why does my car battery warning light flicker on and off?
- 10Car battery keeps dying even after replacing battery and alternator
- 8Engine misfires and RPM surging when driving uphill
- 2How to trace an intermittent short circuit in a car wiring harness
- 6Why does my car lose power for a second when starting?