Generator Light, school me on normalcy Options

[stepuptotheMike]

So I took the car out this evening to stretch her legs good before the long trek up for ECC2008.

As I was getting back it was after dark and I noticed a faint (very faint) glow from the generator light. Now I had everything running.... Lights, Fogs, Fan, stereo. If I hit the turn signal, I could notice the slightest pulse in the light along with the signal.

Is this normal? Never noticed the G light coming on at all before... but I don't really drive the car at night very much either.

Alternator belt appears to be tight enough. Battery registers 12V at the poles. I've cleaned the ground points on the car several weeks back (both headlights, tranny strap, neg battery terminal).

The car ran really well this evening, so I think it did some good to get a longer trip under it's belt. Just trying to establish normal from abnormal.

Thanks,

Mike

[gasman]

Hey Mike.....If you were at idle and the light was dim, I would think you are ok... But if you were driving down the road and with engine rpm's high, I would think there is a problem. Check your charging system at idle and see what the volts are at the battery...I think it should be between 13 and 14 volts...Put a draw on the battery...(lights fan etc...) There should be no more than a 1 volt drop....well that the way it used to be in the 1970's....Make sure your battery has water above the plates...also check you individual cells in the battery...could have a dead cell. Maybe auto zone will do a load test to make sure the battery is ok....also check the belt...when you have a draw on the charging system, it puts a strain on the belt too....Thats why you can hear engines slow down when you start to put all the electrical things on in your car...this might cause the belt to slip....and another thing you can do is....don't drive at night.....let me know if your going to Octoberfest Oct 11 in Greensboro...PCA only..Take care...Jim