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Ok when i got my electrical system checked they said there was something wrong with the charging system. if the altonator were to go out would the battery light go on? or would it be my voltage regulator? thx for the help. oh there is a new battery too..

Did they say anything more specific than "there's something wrong with your charging system?"

Ordinarily, alternator failure does cause the battery light to come on, but it's possible for it to fail without it. If you have ABS, the ABS light coming on is also a common symptom of charging system troubles.

You just replaced the battery? Do you have a good explanation for why the last battery died?

Have you measured system voltage at idle and at around 3000 rpm?

good explanation for the battery died is because its been over 8 years old and i always used it with our turning on the car. one day i was just driving and all the lights where dim. and the sub kept cutting out. and when i turend off the car it wouldnt start anymore. no they haventmt measured it at 3000 rpms, i should tho.

our = out, and i dont have abs.

Okay, I was just wondering if maybe the death of the old battery and present charging troubles were related.

I think you need more information about what's supposedly wrong.

hmm heres somemore info. that night when i got it jumped started it stayed at around 500 rpms. felt like it was gonna die. i drove it for atleast 15 min to get to my friends house. then stayed there for about 1-2 hours. it almost didnt start. but in the morning i had to get it jump started again.

then it just started up fine after all that it didnt discharge. maybe it was because i drove it for like 70 miles?? and i was like going 80 mph all the way. anyways it seemed like it was just charged again.

so maybe the voltage regulator was messed up but then just kicked in again? ill get it tested again and see how much it makes at 3000 rpms.

The VR is intergral to the alternator, so the unit must be replaced. Have them check the system like Vikash said at idle and 3k. Make sure all connections are good and its also possible you have a bad battery.

Steve

and also, couldn't running a car on a dead or weak battery damage the alternator? Thats what I have heard at least...

Andrew

it was tested with the dying battery

I've ran my car on a damaged battery for just about a year.. i just recently popped in an Optima Red Top... it's ok. My battery had problems last year (about this time..) when my alt went out.. ever since i've had it (the alt) rebuilt, it's been fine, but i've always had the battery and stoplamp/brake lights flash in the gauges... in addition to no illumination, (but that's different, i just fixed that, too.)
Just go have your alt rebuilt, the VR is what's commonly wrong and it's like a$5 part, however, most places won't stock them cause they'd rather charge you $200+ for a new alt... but yes, a bad alt could deep-cycle (?) a battery, thus causing it not to charge correctly, making the alt lights come on.
To check if your alt is good and will run the car, turn the car on, run it, then disconnect the battery. the alt should keep the car alive...i'm not sure of whether or not it should keep it running WELL, but it shouldn't die, either. If that's the case(it stays alive), then replace your battery. If your car dies... well... yeah, your alt should get looked at. also look into having your alt rewound... i think there's a thread on that somewhere around here, too. i'll have to look today.

-=tris

Yes, a dead or nearly-dead battery can damage the alternator, since it's designed to work with a healthy battery helping it stabilize the charging voltage.