79 malibu wagon with idiot lights generator light is staying on all the time even with key off any help appreciated
Gen/batt light staying on
- Thread starter CALI-WAGON_09
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Well, you have a wiring issue; but you already knew that, right?
Okay, first off where does the idiot light go and what does it do? The Gen light is supposed to be powered up when the key is on. Power goes to the light from the ignition switch. The ground side of the circuit actually grounds at your alternator inside. You've seen the two wire plug on top of your alternator? It has a number 1 and a number 2 on it. Number 1 is the ground for your idiot light. Number 2 is power from the battery to your voltage regulator.
If I had to guess, I'd bet that when you unplug that connector on the alternator your light goes out. That means that either there is s short in your plug, or most likely your voltage regulator inside your alternator is shorted out.
Good luck!!
Okay, first off where does the idiot light go and what does it do? The Gen light is supposed to be powered up when the key is on. Power goes to the light from the ignition switch. The ground side of the circuit actually grounds at your alternator inside. You've seen the two wire plug on top of your alternator? It has a number 1 and a number 2 on it. Number 1 is the ground for your idiot light. Number 2 is power from the battery to your voltage regulator.
If I had to guess, I'd bet that when you unplug that connector on the alternator your light goes out. That means that either there is s short in your plug, or most likely your voltage regulator inside your alternator is shorted out.
Good luck!!
Thanks i'm going to go outside and check plus take the alt to be checked i think thats the prob engine sat outside for a year
btw do you know where the green wire plugs into? thanks again
btw do you know where the green wire plugs into? thanks again
The wire for the idiot light will be the smaller of the two wires on the plug. The big one runs back to the post on the back of the alternator and runs the voltage regulator circuit. I want to say the small wire is orange, but that may just be on American Motors applications that used the 10si alternators.
Sorry to bring the dead back to life. My light stays on when the car is running. I thought a bad ground. I found a loose boot with stripped out hole. I cleaned that coach and fixed the hole. Solid contact now. But the light stays on. I unplugged the two write connector and the light does go off. Now the system stays charged and everything is fine but the light. Can any one help shed light on this. Is it a bad wire or bad voltage regulator our bad ground in the system. Thank you
If you unplugged the connector and the light went out, then your wiring is fine. Your voltage regulator is bad. The regulator runs that wire to ground to light up the bulb on the dash, so that is your culprit.
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