Q&A

If your battery light turns off after a couple seconds you should be ok. Here's a good article on the charge light, it's a little techie but it may help you understand what is going on. When you start the car, it will typically stay on for a couple seconds before turning off. It's only a problem if the lights comes back on while the engine is running or if it never shuts off. A battery typically lasts 3-5 years before it gets weak and won't hold charge in cold weather.
http://repairpal.com/charging-system-warning-light

The oil light acts the same way in most cases. It should turn off after a couple seconds. Sometimes the light is for oil level and sometimes it is for oil pressure but either way, you did the right thing by checking the oil. I am curious though, was it really 4 quarts low on oil? Have you checked the dipstick? The little 4 cylinder in the PT only holds 4 or 5 quarts. hope this helps

i'm wondering what you did , I'm having the same problem
I have a 2005 pt cruiser base with 58000 miles, so i turned on the car the check engine turned on , but I kept driving and at my street corner my battery light turned (also i felt that it had trouble idling like if it wanted to turn off because the rpm was to low), again I kept driving and went on the freeway then i felt the car wouldn't shift gears at 40 miles per hours its rpm was at 4k (i tried putting the car in 3rd gear but it made no difference) then the lights inside the car shut off and then the car turned off.

Once i got towed home i installed a new battery from napa, the next day i decided to try again. When i turned on the char the check engine was on, still i got on the freeway again and drove. 5 miles afterwards the battery light turned on again and had to turn back.

Finally the day after that i turned on the car, check engine light on at my street corner (.2 miles) the car had trouble idling (low rpms) a few feet after that the battery light came on and then the car turned off. I parked waited a minute or two and turned the car on and went back home.
Because it was thanksgiving day and we wanted to cook something for dinner, I tried again turned on the car this time both the check engine and battery light were on, and i went on a 3 miles roundtrip to the store. and got back safely.

anyone has any idea whats going on ? my dad thinks its the alternator
the only mechanic open today near davis, ca wants 90$ for diagnostic and repair cost on top of that (i tough most would give me the diagnostic as credit towards the repair) but i also tough many code scanners cost like 90$

PLEASE HELP ME OUT :)