My gen light in the gauge is now on all the time. Don't really need it. Have an accurate volt meter to tell me if the alt. is working. Can I unplug the bulb and connect the two wires without doing harm?
Thanks,
Doug M
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Doug,
If the light is on and the alt is charging properly, then you probably have a one wire alt with an internal regulator that does not have a provision for a warning light. If that is the case, the wire from the light is probably grounding in the engine bay. The wire should be blue with a black stripe.
If you still have the external regulator, then the light wire must be grounding somewhere, and the alt wouldn't be charging properly.
Did this start about the time that you installed the new ignition system?
PM sent.
John
If the light is on and the alt is charging properly, then you probably have a one wire alt with an internal regulator that does not have a provision for a warning light. If that is the case, the wire from the light is probably grounding in the engine bay. The wire should be blue with a black stripe.
If you still have the external regulator, then the light wire must be grounding somewhere, and the alt wouldn't be charging properly.
Did this start about the time that you installed the new ignition system?
PM sent.
John
Did this start about the time that you installed the new ignition system?
PM sent.
John[/QUOTE]
Of course, that's exactly when it started.
I do have a one wire alt. with no provision for the idiot light. I knew the light wouldn't work and that's fine. It never came on. Now it's on all the time. I just want to know if I can pull the bulb out or connect the two wires at the bulb socket without any other gremlins popping up?
Thanks,
Doug M
PM sent.
John[/QUOTE]
Of course, that's exactly when it started.
I do have a one wire alt. with no provision for the idiot light. I knew the light wouldn't work and that's fine. It never came on. Now it's on all the time. I just want to know if I can pull the bulb out or connect the two wires at the bulb socket without any other gremlins popping up?
Thanks,
Doug M
Doug,
Pull the white wire at the bulb and insulate it so that it can't short out if it contacts a grounded surface. It is hot with the ignition on. If you just remove the bulb, power will still flow through the resistor (soldered on the socket terminals) that is in parallel with the bulb.
Now, after having done that, if the car won't start or doesn't run right, that wire was probably mistaken for a switched hot and used in the new ignition install. I'd look for the wire in the engine bay and insulate it there.
John
Pull the white wire at the bulb and insulate it so that it can't short out if it contacts a grounded surface. It is hot with the ignition on. If you just remove the bulb, power will still flow through the resistor (soldered on the socket terminals) that is in parallel with the bulb.
Now, after having done that, if the car won't start or doesn't run right, that wire was probably mistaken for a switched hot and used in the new ignition install. I'd look for the wire in the engine bay and insulate it there.
John