I charged the battery overnight, and this morning it was reading 12+ volts before I started it. The car started fine. For a few minutes after I started it, the battery registered 14+ volts, and then it slowly eased down to about 12.5.
While working with the battery, I kept checking the turn signal lights. At times they work perfect, at times they work, but slowly and dimly, and at times they don't work at all.
Also, with the battery in the car, but with the car not running, I checked the voltage at the big terminal on the alternator. It was reading 12.8, which was the same as the battery voltage at that time. I interpret this as meaning that the wiring going from the battery to the alternator is okay, and also that the mega fuse is okay. Right?
Ideas? Suggestions? Right now I'm leaning toward an intermittent short in the wiring/steering column/turn signal assembly.
One other thing. The battery light in the instrument cluster is illuminated when I first turn the switch to the on position, which means the bulb is not burned out. But, when the car is running, the battery light is NOT illuminated, which I think indicates that there is nothing wrong with the charging system. Even with the battery nearly dead, the battery light stays off. What exactly does it mean when the battery light is on? Bad alternator/charging system? Bad battery?
Thanks for any ideas.
