If your Acura TSX’s Check Charge System light—or “Charging System Indicator” as Acura calls it—-comes on, contact roadside assistance or take it to a mechanic if possible. The light means you’re dealing with an issue in the battery charging system.
Gas isn’t the only thing driving your vehicle. The alternator converts mechanical energy from the engine into electrical energy for the battery, helping power features like the on-board accessories that you enjoy on the dash and console. If any of these components break, however, it could leave you with some major issues.
Read on to find out more about the charging system indicator on the Acura TSX and what you can do to resolve the issue in this car repair
guide. 
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Acura TSX check charge system: what does it mean?
Put simply, the “Check Charge System” light, or rather, the “Charging System” indicator on the Acura TSX tells you that there is an issue with the car’s charging system. Acura’s indicator will come on if the battery is not being charged properly.
This could mean problems with the entire system: anywhere from the battery and the alternator to the electronic control unit (ECU) and the wiring connections that link it all.
Since there’s quite a few components at play, this doesn’t mean that there’s always a problem with the battery. The solution may not be complicated, either. That being said, if the indicator comes on, there’s a problem with the system and you could lose power unexpectedly unless the issue is fixed.
Acura recommends immediately contacting a dealer once this happens and turning off the climate control system, rear defogger, and other electrical systems that can be turned off. If you need to stop temporarily, try not to turn off the engine and restarting it may cause the battery to rapidly discharge.
Common causes of charging system problems
There’s a wide range of issues that could be causing this problem, but we’ve broken down some of the more common ones below.
Bad alternator
A faulty alternator
is the leading cause of the check charging system light coming on in most vehicles. The battery may help start your car, but the alternator converts mechanical energy to electricity that powers your on-board accessories and also charges your battery. A problem with the alternator can lead to problems with those components—meaning you’d have to deal with your battery being rapidly drained out as it is simply no longer getting charged. There’s actually a way you can check for yourself if it’s a problem with the alternator. While the engine is running, connect the terminals of the battery to a multimeter and get a reading.
If you do this while all the accessories on your TSX are running—like the headlights, air conditioning fan, and interior lights—and the voltage drops below 12 volts, it means the current supply from the alternator is cut off and the electronics are solely being powered by the battery.
Battery problems
You may also be looking at a problem with your battery. This could be anything from a loose electrical connection or damaged wire to corrosion on the battery terminals. Corrosion is a fairly common problem, especially if the battery is over two years old.
Corrosion happens when the battery acid reacts with the metal terminals and can lead to a loss of contact and reduced current flow. Reduced current flow in turn means that the battery won’t be charged properly, which can cause engine starting problems.
Before you hastily buy a new battery, you can check to see if there’s a problem with the terminals
themselves. Lift the plastic cover and check for signs of corrosion. If you see any white deposits or silvery-green deposits, the solution may be as easy as just cleaning the terminals. Be sure to check with a mechanic just in case, however. Drive belt issues
The serpentine belt
, or drive belt, can also be a cause of the Charging Indicator Light coming on. The drive belt is what transfers the power from the engine to other components like the alternator and AC compressor. If the belt is damaged or comes loose, it can cause it to slip, which leads the alternator to spin slower and degrade electricity production. Wires, fuses, and connections
There may also be issues with the fuse box or any wiring connections
in your car’s electrical system. It may be worth checking the fuse box, if you know how, to see if this is the cause of the light. You may be seeing issues with other components, like brake lights for example, if it’s an issue with the wiring system. Poor ground connection
The ground connection is the connection between the negative terminal of the battery and the body of the TSX. Since the engine needs a ground connection to work, a ground wire is usually used to connect it to the chassis. If either of these connections goes bad, you will face a lot of electrical issues, which may set off the Charging System Indicator
How to reset the check charging system on a Acura TSX
If you have an OBDII scanning device, you could technically delete the error codes relating to the charging system to get the charging indicator light to turn off. This will not fix the underlying issue with the charging system.
The best course of action, therefore, is to take the vehicle into the dealer as soon as possible. Having a professional look at the problem can get it diagnosed more quickly and you can get it fixed if needed.
Can I drive with a charging system warning light?
It depends on the problem, but it’s advised that you don’t drive at all with a charging system warning light. You may be able to drive for a short distance, but if it’s an issue with some of the components we’ve identified above, you may quickly find yourself losing most if not all of your battery power, leaving you unable to start your car.
The best thing you can do is have a mechanic check the problem out as soon as possible and get it fixed.
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