My car had idiot lights. When I switched to gauges the alternator would not charge. So there is no resistor wire in my harness because of the indicator light? I had to source a voltmeter gauge that had the indicator light built in. Then it worked.
Resistor in alternator wire???
- Thread starter mc1984ss
- Start date
- Status
if you remember the stock voltage has a small light in it that comes on when you start the car and goes out when the alternator is charging. That light is the resistor
that light was in all the voltage gauges, it was a simple system used a light bulb that was used to check the charging system every time you start the car. If the light does not go on then you have a problem, if the light does not go out then you have a prroblem. if the light goes on and goes out you are good to go. How much simpler can it be
The would be a VOLT light in the spot your volt gauge is. My car ('81 Monte) is a gauge conversion car with out a resistor wire or light which never affected the alternator all the years it was on the road before the tear down (lucky I'm guessing.) I do plan to convert my CHECK ENGINE light (computer long gone) to become the new volt light after repinning the wire. I also have a scrap dash harness from a gauge car that does have the resistor wire if I change my mind.
There is a volt gauge, not a light. I'm sorry for the questions like I said the car has been sitting for a very long time. It still is not running so I am trying to figure this out as I go. I do not remember there being a light on the volt gauge that would go on and off, that's why I was wondering if the check engine, or fasten seat belt light was doing the job. Since my ecu is long gone the check engine light idea is great.
Steve you jogged my feeble memory. It was when I switched to the 1978 silver faced gauges. They must have used the resistor wire with those because it had no light. I ended up using the regular GP volt gauge with the light and swapped the silver face onto that gauge. I just drilled a small hole in the gauge face for the light to show though.
I just got out the stock GP gauges I have in a box, the grey light housing light up the red light at the bottom of the gauge. The light bulb is the same light bulb that is used in the warning light systems
the small hole at the backside of the gauge is the red system check/warning light
and the front of the gauge you can see where the light is at the bottom of the gauge..
the small hole at the backside of the gauge is the red system check/warning light
and the front of the gauge you can see where the light is at the bottom of the gauge..
If you haven't messed with the car for some time things are forgotten as we all have been there trying to remember things. I should have stated base cars with out the gauge option would of had the light in the same location your gauge sits. As others have noted a car with a volt gauge would not have a volt warning light (except '79 up Pontiacs which did have both as pontiacgp's post shows in the pics.) Just when ever you get a chance just crawl under the dash & look at the ignition switch. As long as you find the 24 AWG brown-white stripe wire with the 12 AWG orange wire you'll have the factory resistor wire in place. The other warning lights just function for what they are labeled for.
- Status
Similar threads
