The voltmeter shows the alternator is charging, the battery has plenty of juice to start the car quickly but the battery idiot light remains lit while driving. Anyone seen this behavior in a major appliance? (Dr. Peter Beckman, Ghost Buster et al).
Location: Fallbrook, CA (North San Diego County)
Posts: 37
My VIN: SCEDT26T4DD016387
Club(s): (DOA) (NCDMC) (DCUK)
The voltmeter shows the alternator is charging, the battery has plenty of juice to start the car quickly but the battery idiot light remains lit while driving. Anyone seen this behavior in a major appliance? (Dr. Peter Beckman, Ghost Buster et al).
Posts: 4,784
My VIN: Banged your VIN'S mom
First check to see if the belt is still there, then see if it's loose.
If the belt is tight, you want to check the plugs at the alternator to see if one has come loose, then check voltage at the battery. If all of that is ok then you need to test the battery and alternator.
Location: Leonardtown, MD
Posts: 9,008
My VIN: 03572
I have seen it with an overcharging alternator. What alternator do you have and what voltage readings are you seeing? Have you checked the voltage with a meter on the battery?
Location: North GA
Posts: 6,177
Club(s): (SEDOC) (DCUK)
What type of alternator (Motorolla, Duceller, Delco type,...)?
Is the brilliance while driving roughly the same as when the key is on but engine not running?
Battery voltage at idle and at 1200+ RPM using volt meter?
EDIT: No reply, then 3 at once LOL
Last edited by Ron; 09-26-2015 at 07:52 PM.
Location: Fallbrook, CA (North San Diego County)
Posts: 37
My VIN: SCEDT26T4DD016387
Club(s): (DOA) (NCDMC) (DCUK)
Gawd only knows what's in there. It's an '83 so it probably shipped with a Motorola but, I think it got replaced a while back. My father kept terrible records of things as mundane as his car. I'll probably replace it soon since I'm sure it suffered some ill effects when the starter kept shorting out.Originally Posted by Ron
Symptoms when it shorted out while I was driving were... tachometer goes nuts, I smelled smoke... stopped car and it wouldn't start... and I was at the smog test station when this went down. 11 months later, I can get it smog'd just in time to pay next year's registration.
Last edited by MacinTek; 09-26-2015 at 09:35 PM.
Location: North GA
Posts: 6,177
Club(s): (SEDOC) (DCUK)
There should be a small brown-yellow wire going to the alternator. It comes from the light. Could of came off and/or grounded to the exhaust or ??
Find it and, with it disconnected, turn the key to on, use a jumper wire to ground and un-ground the wire - The light should go on and off. This tests everything involved but the alternator itself. If OK, run by Autozone and they can check the alternator on the car...
Location: Leonardtown, MD
Posts: 9,008
My VIN: 03572
Those brown wires are probably breaking off the terminal or pulling out of it. That sharp bend in the wires is not a good idea.
Posts: 4,808
My VIN: 3937
Haha, nice! You're gonna fit in here just fine!
Don't cross those wires... it would be bad!
Sept. 81, auto, black interior
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,582
My VIN: 10757 1st place Concourse 1998
Remove the alternator, get it tested, then repaired or replaced. Also have the battery tested.Haha, nice! You're gonna fit in here just fine!
Don't cross those wires... it would be bad!
David Teitelbaum
Location: Reedsburg, WI
Posts: 4,026
My VIN: 5180
Club(s): (DMWC) (DCUK)
I had to fix the photos😜
Dennis
DENNIS
VIN 5180, Frame 3652, STAGE II, DM-eng Solid State Solutions (RPM Rly, Dm.Lt.Mod., Fan Fail Mod. , FAN Rly, HS.Rly) , HID headlights, SPAX user since 2009, Eibach springs, M Adj. Rear LCA's, DPNW poly-sway bar kit, DMCEU LCA Stabilizer link kit, DMCMW Illuminated door sills, Aussie Illuminated SS Shifter plate, REAL MOMO EVO Steering wheel, DELOREANA Extended View Side Mirrors w/ Heaters, DELOREANA LED Door Lights.
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