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Battery light would turn on in the dashboard so I took it to an auto-electric specialist place.  First alternator went bad after 2 months, next alternator went bad after 2 days.  After the second alternator was replaced the guy told me it could be caused by a faulty battery or a faulty wiring harness.   He explained how a weak battery could make the alternator work extra hard to recharge and cause it to fail.   I thought this was baloney.  What do you think?  

first...  what year saturn...

you will probably want to print this..

and yes....   old or damaged batteries will damage the alternator diodes....

look at your battery.. are the ends of the cases swollen out...   (         )

corroded battery cables are the also a huge problem..

having your battery load tested....  so you will know if it is still serviceable..

then a test with a digital volt meter...

set digital volt meter to 20 volts DC scale..

engine off.. turn on headlights for one minute. then turn them off

12.65 volts is a fully charged battery

12.45 volts is a 3/4 charged battery

12.25 volts is a 1/2 charged battery..

you need to have at least 12.5 volts to get proper readings on test #1..

engine running..  headlights on....    set digital volt meter to 20 volts DC scale..

1.  test the positive battery post to the negative battery post...   14.1 to 14.8 volts is expected..

2.  test the negative battery post to the engine block..   0.04 volts is expected..

3. test the negative battery post to the body...    0.02 volts is expected..

4.. test the engine block to the body ...     0.02 volts is expected..

if you get 0.00 on test 2 , 3, 4  reset digital volt meter to 2 volts DC scale.. retest 2, 3, 4

post results by number.. 1, 2, 3, 4..

if you can reach the alternator output post.. not always easy on a saturn..   test between that and the positive battery with the volt meter set at 20 volts DC..    you should have less than 0.20 volts..


you might want to with the engine OFF...    ENGINE OFF>.. disconnect both battery cables.. pour some HOT water on them.. then remove the bolt from the rubber cover.. then inspect the ring terminal down in the rubber for corrosion..  i usually use a 2 buck wooden handled stainless steel wire tooth brush from the paint or hardware store..  


use more hot water and wire brush any corrosion you find off..   wash the face of the battery posts also ....

corrosion makes the alternator work harder...  

why do i want to know what year your car is..

many of the Saturn's use computer controlled alternators...

where the ECM controls the amount of current the alternator puts out...  

2003 Saturn Ion

The electric shop guy wasn't kidding then about the battery.  He mentioned the computer control on the alternator.  So you think the ECM might be acting up and causing trouble?

I'm going to go to Pep Boys today and get a free battery test.  The electric shop says they did it but it never hurts to double check.  

the computerized charging system and battery tester will put out a print out..   hopefully.. you will get a copy and scan it.. post it to photobucket..

there are just a 2 or 4 codes that relate to the charging system  but there is stuff going on that does not set a code...

i will try to find some later this evening..


DTC______DTC Descriptor______Module/s That Sets this DTC

P-Codes (Powertrain Systems)
P0030 HO2S Heater Control Circuit Sensor 1 ECM
P0033 Supercharger Bypass Valve Solenoid Control Circuit ECM
P0036 HO2S Heater Control Circuit Sensor 2 ECM
P0068 Throttle Body Airflow Performance ECM
P0069 Manifold Absolute Pressure - Barometric Pressure Correlation ECM
P0097 Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor*2 Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0098 Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor 2 Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0101 Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Performance ECM
P0102 Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Circuit Low Frequency ECM
P0103 Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Circuit High Frequency ECM
P0106 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor Performance ECM
P0107 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0108 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0112 Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0113 Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0117 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0118 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0120 Throttle Position (TP) Sensor 1 Circuit ECM
P0121 Throttle Position (TP) Sensor Performance ECM
P0122 Throttle Position (TP) Sensor Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0123 Throttle Position (TP) Sensor Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0125 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Insufficient for Closed Loop Fuel Control ECM
P0128 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature ECM
P0130 HO2S Circuit Sensor 1 ECM
P0131 HO2S Circuit Low Voltage Sensor 1 ECM
P0132 HO2S Circuit High Voltage Sensor 1 ECM
P0133 HO2S Slow Response Sensor 1 ECM
P0134 HO2S Circuit Insufficient Activity Sensor 1 ECM
P0135 HO2S Heater Performance Sensor 1 ECM
P0136 HO2S Circuit Sensor 2 ECM
P0137 HO2S Circuit Low Voltage Sensor 2 ECM
P0138 HO2S Circuit High Voltage Sensor 2 ECM
P0140 HO2S Circuit Insufficient Activity Sensor 2 ECM
P0141 HO2S Heater Performance Sensor 2 ECM
P0171 Fuel Trim System Lean ECM
P0172 Fuel Trim System Rich ECM
P0201 Injector 1 Control Circuit ECM
P0202 Injector 2 Control Circuit ECM
P0203 Injector 3 Control Circuit ECM
P0204 Injector 4 Control Circuit ECM
P0217 Engine Coolant Overtemperature ECM
P0220 Throttle Position (TP) Sensor 2 Circuit ECM
P0222 TPS*2 Out of Range Low ECM
P0223 TPS*2 Out of Range High ECM
P0230 Fuel Pump Relay Control Circuit ECM
P023A Charge Air Cooler (CAC) Coolant Pump Relay Control Circuit ECM
P0300 Engine Misfire Detected ECM
P0301 Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected ECM
P0302 Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected ECM
P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected ECM
P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected ECM
P0315 Crankshaft Position (CKP) System Variation Not Learned ECM
P0325 Knock Sensor (KS) Circuit ECM
P0326 Knock Sensor (KS) Performance ECM
P0327 Knock Sensor (KS) Circuit Low Frequency ECM
P0335 Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Circuit ECM
P0336 Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Performance ECM
P0340 Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Circuit ECM
P0341 Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Performance ECM
P0420 Catalyst System Low Efficiency ECM
P0442 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Small Leak Detected ECM
P0443 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) Purge Solenoid Control Circuit ECM
P0446 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) Vent System Performance ECM
P0449 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) Vent Solenoid Control Circuit ECM
P0451 Fuel Tank Pressure (FTP) Sensor Performance ECM
P0452 Fuel Tank Pressure (FTP) Sensor Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0453 Fuel Tank Pressure (FTP) Sensor Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0454 Fuel tank Pressure (FTP) Sensor Circuit Intermittent ECM
P0455 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Large Leak Detected ECM
P0461 Fuel Level Sensor Performance ECM
P0462 Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0463 Fuel Level Sensor Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0480 Cooling Fan Relay 1 Control Circuit ECM
P0481 Cooling Fan Relay 2 Control Circuit ECM
P0496 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Flow During Non-Purge ECM
P0502 Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0503 Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) Circuit Intermittent ECM
P0506 Idle Speed Low ECM
P0507 Idle Speed High ECM
P0520 Engine Oil Pressure (EOP) Sensor Circuit ECM
P0532 Air Conditioning (A/C) Refrigerant Pressure Sensor Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0533 Air Conditioning (A/C) Refrigerant Pressure Sensor Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0562 System Voltage Low ECM
P0563 System Voltage High ECM
P0564 Cruise Control Multi-Function Switch Circuit ECM
P0601 Control Module Read Only Memory (ROM) ECM
P0602 Control Module Not Programmed ECM
P0603 Control Module Long Term Memory Reset ECM
P0604 Control Module Random Access Memory (RAM) ECM
P0606 Control Module Internal Performance ECM
P0607 Control Module Performance ECM
P0621 Generator L-Terminal Circuit ECM
P0622 Generator F-Terminal Circuit ECM
P0641 5-Volt Reference 1 Circuit ECM
P0646 Air Conditioning (A/C) Clutch Relay Control Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0647 Air Conditioning (A/C) Clutch Relay Control Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0650 Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Control Circuit ECM
P0651 5-Volt Reference 2 Circuit ECM
P0691 Cooling Fan Speed Output Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0719 Brake Switch Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P0722 Brake Switch Circuit High Voltage ECM
P0833 Clutch Pedal Switch 2 Circuit ECM
P1101 Intake Air Flow System Performance ECM
P1106 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor Circuit Intermittent High Voltage ECM
P1107 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor Circuit Intermittent Low Voltage ECM
P1111 Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor Circuit Intermittent High Voltage ECM
P1112 Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor Circuit Intermittent Low Voltage ECM
P1114 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Circuit Intermittent Low Voltage ECM
P1115 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Circuit Intermittent High Voltage ECM
P1133 HO2S Insufficient Switching Sensor 1 ECM
P1134 HO2S Transition Time Ratio Sensor 1 ECM
P1182 Supercharger Inlet Pressure Sensor Performance ECM
P1183 Supercharger Inlet Pressure Sensor Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P1184 Supercharger Inlet Pressure Sensor Circuit High Voltage ECM
P1516 Throttle Actuator Control (TAC) Module Throttle Actuator Position Performance ECM
P1540 Air Conditioning (A/C) Refrigerant Overpressure - Air Conditioning (A/C) Disabled ECM
P1574 Stoplamp Switch Circuit ECM
P1621 Control Module Long Term Memory Performance ECM
P1626 Theft Deterrent Fuel Enable Signal Lost ECM
P1630 Theft Deterrent Learn Mode Active ECM
P1631 Theft Deterrent Fuel Enable Signal Not Correct ECM
P1633 Ignition 0 Switch Circuit ECM
P1680 Control Module Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) System Performance ECM
P1681 Control Module Throttle Position (TP) System Performance ECM
P1682 Ignition 1 Switch Circuit 2 ECM
P2101 Control Module Throttle Actuator Position Performance ECM
P2119 Throttle Closed Position Performance ECM
P2120 Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) Sensor 1 Circuit ECM
P2122 Pedal Position Sensor*1 Out of Range Low ECM
P2123 Pedal Position Sensor*1 Out of Range High ECM
P2125 Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) Sensor 2 Circuit ECM
P2127 Pedal Position Sensor*2 Out of Range Low ECM
P2128 Pedal Position Sensor*2 Out of Range High ECM
P2135 Throttle Position (TP) Sensor 1-2 Correlation ECM
P2138 Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) Sensor 1-2 Correlation ECM
P2176 Minimum Throttle Position Not Learned ECM
P2227 Barometric Pressure (BARO) Sensor Performance ECM
P2228 Barometric Pressure (BARO) Sensor Circuit Low Voltage ECM
P2229 Barometric Pressure (BARO) Sensor Circuit High Voltage ECM
P2610 Control Module Ignition Off Timer Performance ECM