"Check Charging System" in Ford Edge: What's Wrong and How to Fix It?

The charging system comprises several components. That's why the red light indicating a charging system failure in your Ford Edge's dashboard can leave you wondering which component has a problem.

Check charging system message highlights

• Common reasons:alternator problems, dying battery, wiring issues, voltage regulator faulty
• How to fix:check the battery, check the alternator, confirm the wiring is OK
• Possible consequences:car may not start eventually
• Priority level:High
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$150-$800

What Makes up a Ford Edge Charging System?

The charging system of a Ford Edge involves generating, storing, and conveying electrical energy to different vehicle parts that need electricity. It consists of components such as the battery, alternator, Engine control unit (ECU), and wiring.

The car uses the alternator to generate electrical energy from the engine's mechanical power. The alternator also charges the car battery and other electrical components in the vehicle. On the other hand, the battery stores the electrical energy that the alternator generates.

A voltage regulator, which is part of the engine control unit, controls amperage through the deduction or increase of the charging voltage. The regulator controls the output of the alternator to prevent overcharging or undercharging of the battery. It does this through a rotor (rotating center of the alternator) by varying the magnetic field.

The serpentine belt-which rotates when the vehicle is running-powers the alternator, air conditioning compressor, and power steering pump. It runs around a series of pulleys.

What Can Cause the Check Charging System Light to Come On?

The check charging system light of your Ford Edge can illuminate for various reasons. Here are some reasons you can consider to get to the bottom of the matter.

• A Battery Issue

Some common issues that involve the battery can be either a low battery strength, loose connection of the terminal cable, or corrosion on the battery's terminals. Apart from Absorbed Glass Mart(AGM) batteries, regular batteries usually start to corrode on the terminals after some time. This happens when the battery acid reacts with the metallic terminals.

What results is a discolorization consisting of white, brown, or green flakes that you can find on the battery terminals. This problem brings about a reduction in the current flow and contact loss. A low current flow, in turn, creates an issue with the starting of the engine. 

How to Solve the Corrosion of Battery Terminals Issue?

If you suspect your check charging light could be coming on because of a battery issue, the first step would be to inspect the battery terminals. This is to check for signs of corrosion. If you see greenish or white flakes on the terminals, all you have to do is to clean off the deposits. But if the battery terminals are highly corroded, the battery needs replacing.

One way to clean the terminals is to pour hot water on them to remove the corrosion. But first, you'll have to remove the terminal cables with pliers before pouring the water. Avoid the hot water puddling on the battery. Another method of cleaning is to use a wire brush or sandpaper to remove the white or silvery-greenish deposits on the terminals.

• A Faulty Alternator

Another issue that can cause the check charging light to come on would be a bad alternator. A damaged alternator can blow a hole in your budget since it's rather expensive. When a faulty alternator stops generating electricity, it leaves all the electrical load on the battery. A typical vehicle run time consumes a relatively large amount of electrical energy. That means if an alternator goes bad, the battery's stored energy will dwindle over time until the car fails to start.

How Do You Test the State of Your Ford Edge's Alternator?

To test the voltage output of an alternator, you'll need a multimeter. You have to connect the multimeter on the negative and positive car battery terminals while the engine is running and you've switched on the electrical components in your car, such as the fan.

A good alternator generates a power voltage of between 13V to 14.5 V. Anything short of or over that range indicates a bad alternator overcharging or undercharging the battery. Overcharging or undercharging can cause the onboard accessories to malfunction. Suppose the voltage drops to 12V and below while the engine and electric components are on.

In that case, it means the power is solely coming from the battery, and the alternator has completely malfunctioned.

Other symptoms of a bad alternator are:

• Worn-out brushes.
• Failed rotor bearings.
• Bad connections of the magnetic windings.
• Blown out fusible links.
• A damaged voltage regulator.

How to solve a Faulty alternator issue?

If you replace the failing alternator parts earlier on you won't have to replace the entire alternator. You can consult your mechanic to determine whether to replace alternator parts like bearings, brushes, or voltage regulators. However, you'll have to buy a new alternator when push comes to shove. You can buy a refurbished or rebuilt one on a tight budget.

• Worn out or Slipping Serpentine Belt

If the alternator and battery aren't the problems, then chances are that the accessory drive belt is damaged or is slipping. If the drive belt gets worn out or breaks, the alternator stops generating power and causes a loss in power steering assist. As a result, the battery warning light turns on.

Symptoms of a worn-out serpentine belt

• Chips and cracks on the ribbed side of the belt.
• A malfunctioning air conditioner.
• A squealing sound coming from the engine area.
• An issue with the power steering.
• Fluid leaking from hydraulic belt tensioner.
• A burning smell.

How to solve the issue of worn-out Serpentine belt?

Since you cannot fix a worn-out accessory drive belt, your only option would be to replace it before it breaks. It would be best to do this once you hear the squealing sound coming from the engine bay of your Ford Edge.

Replacing the belt should be inexpensive and relatively easy. All you need is a belt routing diagram and a wrench. Driving your car with a broken serpentine belt is not advisable since the vehicle tends to overheat. This is because the water pump which the serpentine belt also drives won't be able to circulate the coolant to the radiator and engine. 

• A Poor Ground Connection

A ground connection is the connection of the battery's negative terminal to the vehicle's body. The engine also needs a ground connection where a ground wire or strap connects the engine to the car's body. The ground connection in your vehicle can become poor if it's affected by rust or corrosion. This can cause fluctuation in the supply of power by the alternator.

How Can You Test the State of Your Ground's connection?

Using a multimeter, you can test whether the ground connection is in good condition. This involves a conductivity test between the engine and the battery's negative terminal. The first step is to change the multimeter's settings to Ohm's symbol.

You should then place one probe of the multimeter on an exposed part of the engine's metal and the other on the negative terminal. Your multimeter should read zero or close to zero ohms if the quality of your ground connection is good. Follow the same procedure on the exposed metal part of the alternator and the battery's negative terminal. 

How to Solve the Issue of a Poor ground connection?

Check for signs of corrosion or rust on the ground cable connectors and contacts. If rust is present, remove it with sandpaper or wire brush to regain a quality ground connection.

How to Reset the Battery Light of Your Ford Edge

After fixing any of the issues above, the warning battery light should disappear. However, in some cases, the warning light does not turn off immediately and needs resetting. A short drive can even cause it to disappear. Here are ways to reset the battery light.

• Disconnection of the Battery

A simple disconnection can do the trick. This is especially useful if you don't have a diagnostic tool. All you have to do is first remove the terminal cable on the negative terminal, followed by the cable on the positive terminal.

Then turn on the headlight and fan for about 20 minutes to utilize the remaining electrical energy. Reconnect the battery terminals, you can start with the positive cable and then the negative cable. The check charging system light should be gone. 

• Using an OBDII Scanner

Another way to make the check charging system light disappear after fixing the issue of concern is to use an OBDII diagnostic device. You can connect the diagnostic device to the OBDII connector and erase the error codes that represent a particular problem with the charging system. But first, you'll have to enter the car details, such as engine type, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN).

Bottom Line

There you have it-the main reasons why the check charging system light would come on and how to solve each issue. You can handle the problem yourself or visit a professional mechanic to guide you on the right move to make.