Pontiac Aztek Battery light

Asked by John Feb 16, 2020 at 06:27 AM about the 2003 Pontiac Aztek AWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 2003 Pontiac Aztek, I've owned it for just over 6
months. When I left work this morning, the battery light
came on but everything seemed fine and figured I'd check
everything when I got home (about 5 miles). After about a
minute it went out and I was hoping that would be the end
of it. About half way home the light came back on, and then
the AWD Disabled light came on, then the airbag light,  then
the engine cut out on me, so I pulled into a parking lot. I
tried to start it again, but I it acted like it had a dead battery.
I figured it was the alternator and got ready to give AAA a
call. After a few minutes, for giggles I tried starting it again,
and it started right back up as if nothing ever happened. So
I decided I'd limp it home. I made it about a quarter mile
and all the exterior lights cut out on me, and I was stubborn
and kept on going, the engine was running fine at this point.
After the lights cut out the battery light came back on for
about a minute and then the cluster lost power, just the
cluster, all my other dash lights were on (Radio, Climate,
even the 12V plug was still charging my phone)
I finally got home and put it in park and the engine went into
a very high idle, I don't know how high since my cluster was
still out at this point, I'd have to estimate somewhere
between 2500-3000 RPM, it wasn't redlining by any means
but it was extremely high. I shut the car off and went to
start it right back up and it acted like I had a dead battery, I
let it sit for about 5 minutes and it started right back up
again, and again was like nothing happened, cluster was
back, exterior lights were on. After about 2 minutes the
Battery light came back on, followed by the AWD Disabled
light, followed by the airbag light, and then the engine cut
out, after a few minutes it would start again, wash, rinse,
repeat.
The only thing I've done lately to the truck was replace the
headlights and marker lights over to LED. Have I screwed
myself by doing this, or is it just the alternator and I'm over
thinking all of this?

2 Answers

26,245

I vote for an alternator issue - have it checked at your local parts store (if you can get it there).

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