Charging System Light

The charging system

The charging system light will come on briefly when you turn on the ignition, but the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is working.

It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a problem with the charging system.

It could indicate that you have problems with a generator drive belt, or another electrical problem.

Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is on could drain your battery.

If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.

    See also:

    Running the Vehicle While Parked
    It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to, here are some things to know. WARNING! Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area with poor ventilation is dangerous. Eng ...

    Multi-Band Antenna
    The multi-band antenna is on the roof of the vehicle. The antenna is used for the AM-FM radio, OnStar, the XM Satellite Radio Service System, and GPS (Global Positioning System), if the vehicle ha ...

    Compass
    There is a compass display in the Driver Information Center (DIC). The compass receives its heading and other information from the Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna, StabiliTrak, and vehicle sp ...