Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

2 Pages V  1 2 >  
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Did you Know the generator dash light, must work or the alt will not work?
p914
post Nov 6 2004, 08:00 PM
Post #1


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 518
Joined: 7-September 03
From: Sunny South Florida
Member No.: 1,117
Region Association: None
I just had my alternator go out . In addition my dash light didn't work and it is part of the circuit for the charging system to work..

Anybody else heard of this?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Carlitos Way
post Nov 6 2004, 08:03 PM
Post #2


I did it MY WAY
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,337
Joined: 14-September 04
From: Simi Valley, CA
Member No.: 2,757
Region Association: Southern California
We had a similar situation with my parents Tempo (their choice, not mine), about 10 years ago. 3 different dealerships looked at it, and it wasn't until we escalated it to Ford's customer service that they finally found the problem... 3 alternators later, within 2 years.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
TheCabinetmaker
post Nov 6 2004, 08:07 PM
Post #3


I drive my car everyday
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,301
Joined: 8-May 03
From: Tulsa, Ok.
Member No.: 666
yep, light no work, no charge.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SirAndy
post Nov 6 2004, 08:18 PM
Post #4


Resident German
*************************

Group: Admin
Posts: 41,669
Joined: 21-January 03
From: Oakland, Kalifornia
Member No.: 179
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(vsg914 @ Nov 6 2004, 07:07 PM)
yep, light no work, no charge.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Joe Ricard
post Nov 6 2004, 08:24 PM
Post #5


CUMONIWANNARACEU
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 6,811
Joined: 5-January 03
From: Gautier, MS
Member No.: 92
Technically the light is required to supply the excitation voltage to the Alt. field winding. You could do it with a resistor but that would be dumb. my 928 had a resistor in parallel to the bulb incase the bulb burned out.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
p914
post Nov 6 2004, 11:25 PM
Post #6


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 518
Joined: 7-September 03
From: Sunny South Florida
Member No.: 1,117
Region Association: None
QUOTE(Joe Ricard @ Nov 6 2004, 06:24 PM)
Technically the light is required to supply the excitation voltage to the Alt. field winding.

That's what my mechanic said too. He explained the entire process. Funy that a dash light would serve dual function.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jim_hoyland
post May 21 2016, 08:09 PM
Post #7


Get that VIN ?
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 9,314
Joined: 1-May 03
From: Sunset Beach, CA
Member No.: 643
Region Association: Southern California
Rich at WCR: several thread address this. Hope it helps...


Attached image(s)
Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
timothy_nd28
post May 21 2016, 08:19 PM
Post #8


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,299
Joined: 25-September 07
From: IN
Member No.: 8,154
Region Association: Upper MidWest
Replace that light with an LED, and the alternator will quit working too
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ssuperflyoldguy
post May 21 2016, 09:56 PM
Post #9


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 173
Joined: 15-November 15
From: NorCal - East Bay Baby!
Member No.: 19,364
Region Association: None
QUOTE(timothy_nd28 @ May 21 2016, 07:19 PM) *

Replace that light with an LED, and the alternator will quit working too


Had an open amp gauge that caused mechanic to change alternator, jumped around it & started charging
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
r_towle
post May 21 2016, 10:12 PM
Post #10


Custom Member
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 24,585
Joined: 9-January 03
From: Taxachusetts
Member No.: 124
Region Association: North East States
Yes
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
EdwardBlume
post May 22 2016, 08:13 AM
Post #11


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 12,338
Joined: 2-January 03
From: SLO
Member No.: 81
Region Association: Central California
How can you test the connection to the alt gen light? If the light is on and stays on, then its the generator right?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jim_hoyland
post May 22 2016, 08:21 AM
Post #12


Get that VIN ?
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 9,314
Joined: 1-May 03
From: Sunset Beach, CA
Member No.: 643
Region Association: Southern California
QUOTE(RobW @ May 22 2016, 07:13 AM) *

How can you test the connection to the alt gen light? If the light is on and stays on, then its the generator right?


Right. When the ignition is turned to on and the light doesn't come on was the problem. The test for this is whether the alt light is getting 12v or not; if there is power and no light then the bulb must be replaced.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
EdwardBlume
post May 22 2016, 08:28 AM
Post #13


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 12,338
Joined: 2-January 03
From: SLO
Member No.: 81
Region Association: Central California
Thanks. I guess I still need to change my alternator.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
brant
post May 22 2016, 09:13 AM
Post #14


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 11,632
Joined: 30-December 02
From: Colorado
Member No.: 47
Region Association: Rocky Mountains
QUOTE(vsg914 @ Nov 6 2004, 08:07 PM) *

yep, light no work, no charge.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jim_hoyland
post May 22 2016, 10:09 AM
Post #15


Get that VIN ?
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 9,314
Joined: 1-May 03
From: Sunset Beach, CA
Member No.: 643
Region Association: Southern California
Question: Is the alt light bulb the same as the oil light bulb ?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Dave_Darling
post May 22 2016, 11:34 AM
Post #16


914 Idiot
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 14,991
Joined: 9-January 03
From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona
Member No.: 121
Region Association: Northern California
Same kind and voltage.

BTW, if the voltage regulator is not plugged in, you won't get an alternator light and the alternator won't charge. Don't ask how I know that...

--DD
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jim_hoyland
post May 22 2016, 12:37 PM
Post #17


Get that VIN ?
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 9,314
Joined: 1-May 03
From: Sunset Beach, CA
Member No.: 643
Region Association: Southern California
QUOTE(Dave_Darling @ May 22 2016, 10:34 AM) *

Same kind and voltage.

BTW, if the voltage regulator is not plugged in, you won't get an alternator light and the alternator won't charge. Don't ask how I know that...

--DD


Will the alternator light work if the VR is bad ?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Dave_Darling
post May 22 2016, 09:29 PM
Post #18


914 Idiot
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 14,991
Joined: 9-January 03
From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona
Member No.: 121
Region Association: Northern California
Depends on what has gone bad in it.

--DD
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mbseto
post May 23 2016, 11:31 AM
Post #19


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,253
Joined: 6-August 14
From: Cincy
Member No.: 17,743
Region Association: North East States
QUOTE(p914 @ Nov 7 2004, 01:25 AM) *

Funy that a dash light would serve dual function.


[mal]function, seems like... so is there also a fuse in the circuit?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
worn
post May 23 2016, 11:38 AM
Post #20


can't remember
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,156
Joined: 3-June 11
From: Madison, WI
Member No.: 13,152
Region Association: Upper MidWest
QUOTE(p914 @ Nov 6 2004, 06:00 PM) *

I just had my alternator go out . In addition my dash light didn't work and it is part of the circuit for the charging system to work..

Anybody else heard of this?


Yep. Also you need a two watt bulb or more to get the alternator stated. If you look at the wiring diagram it is one of those clever engineering feats in which the gen light is initially used to bootstrap the windings on the alternator. The way they set it up it warns you of more than one problem using no electronics - just a 2 watt bulb!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

2 Pages V  1 2 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 2nd June 2024 - 10:15 AM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...