It's best if you don't see any warning lights go off in your vehicle, but that's just not the way life works. You are going to have issues arise and when it happens, it's good to know what's going on and what to do about it so you don't panic. When you are driving along and your battery light goes on, you may not know if you can keep driving safely or not. Know your vehicle and how it warns you of certain things to be a confident driver.
If your battery light comes on when you first turn the car on, that is normal. It should turn right back off when the car starts up. The battery light is a misunderstood warning light and it is often trying to tell you something, but maybe not what you think. Often, when the battery light is on, the battery is fine, but the alternator is not charging right. The light coming on does not mean the battery is bad automatically.
When you see that light come on, can you still drive your vehicle? Yes, you can. But you probably shouldn't drive for a long time without getting things checked over. The car is running, but if the battery is low, you may not be able to start the vehicle when you stop again. It's hard to say just how long your vehicle will be able to function is the battery is low and it's best not to take your chances.
You will know things are draining if you can't turn the radio on, operate the power windows, or have trouble with headlights or climate control in the vehicle. In general, when the battery light comes on, it's best to get to a mechanic to see what is going on. Keep the engine running, if you can, until you can get to the shop because you may not be able to start the car again once you have it off if the battery is indeed going out on you.
Give us a call if you need car battery repair or if you want to see why that light is on.