# 2006 Sebring 'whining', intermittent battery light

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-sebring-whining-intermittent-battery-light/72105>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 26, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-sebring-whining-intermittent-battery-light/72105 "2012-04-26T03:36:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![justkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecccb3/32.png) [@justkelly](https://community.cartalk.com/u/justkelly)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-sebring-whining-intermittent-battery-light/72105/1 "2012-04-26T03:36:12Z")

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About a week or two ago, when driving home, my battery light flicked on while at a stop light. Also, as the light wen t green and I accelerated away, I noticed a kind of ‘whine’ from the engine, like a turbine spinning up. By the time I got home it was fine again and the light out, and has been until today, when it happened again…I noticed that it happens if I have the AC on and I’m at a stop. If I turn off the AC when waiting at traffic lights, that seems to eliminate the battery light, but I still here the whine. Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-sebring-whining-intermittent-battery-light/72105/2 "2012-04-26T03:50:13Z")

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The first thing to have done is have the battery/charging system tested. Some auto parts stores will do this in the parking lot for free.

Tester

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-sebring-whining-intermittent-battery-light/72105/3 "2012-04-26T04:41:34Z")

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A bad diode in the alternator will cause exactly the symptoms you are experiencing. The whine is from your alternator. Tester is correct about having your battery/charging system checked.

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**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 5:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-sebring-whining-intermittent-battery-light/72105/4 "2012-04-26T05:49:49Z")

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I think it is time for a new battery, get it tested as advised above. Then if you continue to have problems look at the tensioner and belt. Very simple and not expensive either way.

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**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-sebring-whining-intermittent-battery-light/72105/5 "2012-04-26T06:14:35Z")

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The alternator on my 2000 Blazer started to whine after I installed a battery cut-off switch. The switch wasn’t making a good connection. I removed the switch, cleaned the battery terminals, and reinstalled the cables. The alternator has been fine since.

First check/clean the battery terminals. How old is the serpentine belt? I replace mine every 3 to 5 years. As Tester suggested, have the battery and alternator checked.

Ed B.