sally Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Hi all,Not been here for a while because nothings gone wrong with the car :)Anyway, the alternator light has been on dimly now for a year! When I turn the ignition on the oil and alternator light are both on strong. When the engine starts both lights go out, but the alternator stays on a little.Clearly there's nothing wrong with the charging as the car has been used everyday in all kinds of weather with everything turned on.Any hints? it would be nice to make this one go away. Incidently the fuel warning and handbrake light also light up dimly.Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamSindrey Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Does it go out completly when the engine revs up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sally Posted January 25, 2007 Author Share Posted January 25, 2007 No, stays the same. : | Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 Is the wire connected? Its the smallest of three on the alternator?and just check the fan belt is still there - and importantly it is tight! If more than 3/4 - 1 inch play then tighten it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sally Posted January 26, 2007 Author Share Posted January 26, 2007 I'll check, but it's a case of the light never quite going off, but very clearly going from bright to dim when the engine starts and the revs pick upSally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sally Posted January 26, 2007 Author Share Posted January 26, 2007 I'll check, but it's a case of the light never quite going off, but very clearly going from bright to dim when the engine starts and the revs pick upSally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilnaz Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 Sounds normal to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sorbington Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 Apparantly, the light glowing all the time usually means that the alternator diodes are starting to fail. The worse they get, the brighter the light will be.If the alternator is still charging okay probably best to leave it for a bit..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sally Posted January 26, 2007 Author Share Posted January 26, 2007 It's been like this for over a year and hasn't got any worse. This makes me think there's nothing really wrong with the alternator as the battery as also always well charged and the reading on the volts gauge is 13+Sally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sorbington Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 put a bit of tape over the light, Homer Simpson style! Instant fix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilnaz Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 My alternator light glows very dimly when the car idles. The alternator was new (reconditioned) a year ago. Volts measure fine everything seems normal to me. I would not worry unless the light is glowing quite brightly. Mine is just visible when I am parked in the dark garage.neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 At more than 1000rpm if the light is still on you have a problem.How old is the Alternator?You can get an replacement Lucas ACR for less than £50 brand new, it may come to that, unless you drive on till it pops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollyboy Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 personally I'd leave it until the damp weather clears and see what's happening in the spring, it may go away by itself, may be bad earth somewhere, time for a terminal clean up possibly, both behind the dash and under the bonnet...also the oldie worldie voltmeters are ploppy and dont give particularly accurate readings, especially if its the original. dont have that problem as all my dials are brand new, and the car is in bits;Dbest to use a decent quality multimeter for accurate readings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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