Uh oh...., Generator light... Options

[wrpspddrvr]

Hi all. A little red light popped on tonight.It has a "G" with a circle around it. My first thought was gas, but I filled it up and it didn't go away. The tach and fuel guage go to 0 when I hit the brakes. I think my alternator is dying. Yes? No? Please help!
If it is my alt., can I get one at Autozone?

Cole (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/monkeydance.gif)

[Joe Bob]

Got a Fluke or a volt meter? Check the volts at the battery...12.5 at rest....13+ at idle, 13,5 to 14 at 2500 rpms....

If it stays flatline at 12 ish yer alt is most likely dead....could be a regulator or a lose wire...but most likely the alt.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

[wrpspddrvr]

BTW, my right tail light and both turn signals also stopped working. They were working 2 nights ago (I checked) and the truns were working when I left work 5 minutes before I saw the light.....

So can I get an alt locally or....?

Cole

[lapuwali]

QUOTE (mikez @ Mar 11 2005, 04:34 PM)

Got a Fluke or a volt meter? Check the volts at the battery...12.5 at rest....13+ at idle, 13,5 to 14 at 2500 rpms.... If it stays flatline at 12 ish yer alt is most likely dead....could be a regulator or a lose wire...but most likely the alt.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

It can also be the battery, or the regulator, or the wiring between all three, as well as the alternator itself.

If the G light is on only intermittently, it's probably wiring or the brushes in the alternator. If it's lit all the time, it's not likely to be brushes, but any of the other things can be possible.

If the battery volts are under 12.5 (engine off), it's likely the battery itself. If the headlights vary in brightness with engine revs, it's likely the regulator.

Tach and fuel gauge acting up with the brakes points more to a wiring problem.

[lapuwali]

QUOTE (wrpspddrvr @ Mar 11 2005, 04:38 PM)

BTW, my right tail light and both turn signals also stopped working. They were working 2 nights ago (I checked) and the truns were working when I left work 5 minutes before I saw the light..... So can I get an alt locally or....? Cole

Hm. I'm dimly remember a problem with one particular fuse causing this problem. I'll bet Dave D would know this off the top of his head.

[TheCabinetmaker]

Check the belt tension. Just read your 2nd post. Check your fuses first. rotate them in their holders. They can look ok, and still not make good contact. Turn signals on both sides? Front and rear?

[wrpspddrvr]

QUOTE (vsg914 @ Mar 11 2005, 07:50 PM)

Check the belt tension. Just read your 2nd post. Check your fuses first. rotate them in their holders. They can look ok, and still not make good contact. Turn signals on both sides? Front and rear?

Yep, front and rear.
I'll go check those fuses now...

Thanks guys!

Cole

[wrpspddrvr]

Okay, so I checked the fuses. The one 4 places from the right was blown, and the one second from the left was blown.
I switched a few around here to there and back. Now I have both tailights (including the yellow outer portion) lit up, and the driver's parking light. However, no turn signals work. When I turn on the left TS, the little green light on the dash doesn't do anything, however when I turn on the right TS, it glows a constant green.
Any ideas?

Thanks!
Cole

[brp914]

I had this happen before. Not alternator in my case. Instead, wire to engine compartment light was dangling down causing short. Blew fuse. There was a thread re: this awile back. Some other guy had his wire to his reverse light do this. My Haynes manual is 4 flights downstairs - crap. IIRC this circuit involves fuse #8, goes from brake light switch to taillights and a couple things along the way. Might try pulling this fuse to see if the red light continues to come on w/ brakes.

[TheCabinetmaker]

QUOTE (brp914 @ Mar 11 2005, 07:14 PM)

Some other guy had his wire to his reverse light do this.

Good memory Bryan. That was me. Drove me nuts for a few days.

2nd fuse from left is right high beam. 4th from the right is signal, stop, and reverse. Tach doing funny stuff too?

[wrpspddrvr]

Looks like it's all fixed now! I ran to Advance Auto (closes at 9:00) and got 10 white and 10 red fuses. I just replaced them all. Now everything works fine (and no red light!!!) except for my right front parking/turn signal. The left one works fine, but the passenger one on the front is totally out. The rear passenger just lights up yellow when I try to turn it on. I assume this is because of the front one. Modern cars blink really fast, old ones just stay on?
I'll run to AA again tomorrow and get a bulb for the front lens.

Thanks so much guys, I thought I was gonna have to do an alternator swap in the pitch black freezing cold. Did I mention it's blowing sandy snow sideways out there?

Y'all rock!!!
Cole (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/monkeydance.gif)

[scotty b]

Sounds like to me you need to look into the statute of limitations for the lemon law (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

[wrpspddrvr]

QUOTE (scotty b @ Mar 11 2005, 09:33 PM)

Sounds like to me you need to look into the statute of limitations for the lemon law (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/lol2.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/lol2.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/chairfall.gif)

Cole (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/monkeydance.gif)

[brp914]

Sorry to say I've been around teeners too long to think you've seen the end of this. 300k on my '76 - lotta stuff has happened. If you're handy with electrical stuff and have a VOM you might want to get yourself a Haynes manual, it has a easy to read schematic. IIRC pelican has schematics online too. lotsa luck.