Alternator dimly lit
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 945
Likes: 1
Alternator dimly lit
I bought a '79 few days ago and haven't had a C3 since 1970 so I have to get reacquainted.
The alternator light is dimly lit at all rpm but the voltage is good and the battery doesn't go dead.
Is this likely a bad alternator or a wiring issue? I don't want to go out and buy an alternator only to find that wasn't the issue.
Any help is appreciated.
The alternator light is dimly lit at all rpm but the voltage is good and the battery doesn't go dead.
Is this likely a bad alternator or a wiring issue? I don't want to go out and buy an alternator only to find that wasn't the issue.
Any help is appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Disconnect the connector on the side of the alternator with the engine idling, if the light goes out the wireing is all good. The Dim light is likely from a bad diode in the trio inside the alternator
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
NOPE, gotta check your voltages first.....
with key off engine still.....do you have 12 volts on the MOST CLOCKWISE reg term, when viewed from the back of the alt???
if so, that is correct.....if not and you DO have 12 on the other reg term, the one LEAST clockwise....you have to reverse the leads try it like that.....
you MAY be lucky and not blown the alt/regulator YET.....
I use the description most and least clockwise because the term markings are not there on most castings, and the plugs are all changed out these daze due to age of the cars, and the color codes changed through shark production anyway...but the essentials remained the same.....
with key off engine still.....do you have 12 volts on the MOST CLOCKWISE reg term, when viewed from the back of the alt???
if so, that is correct.....if not and you DO have 12 on the other reg term, the one LEAST clockwise....you have to reverse the leads try it like that.....
you MAY be lucky and not blown the alt/regulator YET.....
I use the description most and least clockwise because the term markings are not there on most castings, and the plugs are all changed out these daze due to age of the cars, and the color codes changed through shark production anyway...but the essentials remained the same.....
