Brake and Battery Light STAY ON

[binar01011]

Fellow Forum Members,
I have a 2001 Pathfinder and out of the blue both the battery light and the brake light located below the analog speedometer have turned on and stay on. I have jiggled the hand brake a lot thinking that it's probably a bad hand brake trip switch and nothing happens. Both lights stilll stay on.

Can anyone out there please let me know what the problem could be so I can some idea of where to start troubleshooting. Any help greatly apprecicated. Thanks.

[Towncivilian]

Check your brake fluid level (just in case). But usually when both brake & battery lights are on (and sometimes A/T OIL TEMP, if a light is in that spot), your alternator is having issues.

[binar01011]

Thanks TownCivilian I hope it's not the alternator.

To cancel out the alternator as being the possible problem what is the best test to perform? Is it reachable to where I could tap it with a volt meter of some kind to see if it's outputting a current? I would be very grateful if anyone out there could offer some more troubleshooting ideas. Thanks.

[Towncivilian]

A basic test would be to measure battery voltage and then +12v somewhere using a multimeter while the engine is started, and post your readings. I believe another way to determine if it's an alternator issue is to have the vehicle idle with many electrical loads (high beam, rear defrost, heater on) and see if the engine or the battery dies - be sure you have some sort of backup if you try this.