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Alternator light,? WHERE?
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bjrogers86auto
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:14 pm    Post subject: light Reply with quote

The suspense is killing me!
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

me too! Cool
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I assume the led in the middle of the temp gauge also blinks several times? And there is a red led in the OX position below the BAT/ALT led and the OX led does not come on?

Assuming the above is correct, do you have a Bentley and what year does it go up to?

Bentley page 97.104 shows the 1987 alternator and D+ with a blue wire going up the page to a spot labeled E13. Do you see this?

Before it gets to E13 there is a connection labeled T1d. See it?

Over on the left page is a list that includes wire connectors. Bottom center is T1d. It says "single, in wire distrib., engine compartment".

The engine compartment wiring box is on the driver side forward corner. Open it and find the blue wire with single connector. Unplug the connector and ground the inside pin while someone watches the dash for the led. If you can't tell which end goes to the dash, try grounding each end in turn. EDIT:the key must be on of course.

Does the light come on?

Mark

irgsmoore4 wrote:
the only light that comes on is the oil light , the others work(high beam, turn signal) Cool


Last edited by crazyvwvanman on Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Tom Powell
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:48 pm    Post subject: Re: light Reply with quote

bjrogers86auto wrote:
The suspense is killing me!

me too
tp
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes when i grounded the inside pin the light came on. Cool
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Tom Powell
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

irgsmoore4 wrote:
yes when i grounded the inside pin the light came on. Cool

the light is good. it must be the wiring
tp
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

so problem solved???? do i just in a new blue wire from the alt to the conection in the black box??? Cool
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, either that connection was bad or there is a break in the blue wire from that point across and back to the alternator. Look inside the plastic housing and make sure the pins look good, then reconnect them, test for the led with key on.

Mark


irgsmoore4 wrote:
yes when i grounded the inside pin the light came on. Cool
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ok have to back up ,i tested the blue wire at the alt again to a ground point and the light came on i guess the first test was not a good ground point , so the wire is good. Cool
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Tom Powell
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

OK, pull the blue wire off again. Then have someone watch the led while you touch the blue wire to bare metal on the engine. The led should come on whenever the blue wire is grounded to bare metal. Does it?

Mark
irgsmoore4 wrote:
no luck, the LED still did not light up. Cool



Should this test have been done with the key on?
tp
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

so i pulled off the blue wire, put key in grounded blue wire and voila , LED came on. Cool
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

so should i run a ground from the blue wire while its on the alt? would this solve the problem, seems to me like the alt is not grounded enough. although i have attached a ground to the alt. Cool
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No, grounding the blue wire will make the dash led work but keep the alternator from charging.

Ok, are you saying the light still does not come on when attached to the alternator but does now come on when the wire is grounded by hand?

If so, I wonder if you are attaching the blue wire to the right place. Can you post a photo of the back of the alternator with your wires attached?

The most likely explaination is that the blue wire has an internal break and when you held it to ground you pulled it such that it made contact inside for a moment. I would try a new wire from T1d to the alternator D+. Any gauge wire from 20 or larger should work. 16 or 14 is more ideal for a permanent replacement.

Mark




irgsmoore4 wrote:
so should i run a ground from the blue wire while its on the alt? would this solve the problem, seems to me like the alt is not grounded enough. although i have attached a ground to the alt. Cool
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

so i attached a wire from the alt to the blue that goes to the light and the light came on, so the wire must be broke that runs to the alt . will this now solve my problem? will the alt now charge?[/img]
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i cant attach a pic (im a dumb@ss and dont know how)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cool Cool Cool
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crazyvwvanman
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If the alt light comes on when the key is turned on and then goes out after the engine is started it indicates that charging is taking place. You should measure the voltage to be sure.

At the alternator 13mm nut red wire you should see at least 13.5 volts measured between there and the case of the alternator. Then measure at the 2 battery posts to see how much voltage is getting there. If the battery is drained, the voltage at the battery will be lower until it is fully charged.

Mark


irgsmoore4 wrote:
so i attached a wire from the alt to the blue that goes to the light and the light came on, so the wire must be broke that runs to the alt . will this now solve my problem? will the alt now charge?[/img]
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irgsmoore4
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool you are a genius, the light came on and when she stated the light went out. At the alt i had 14.02 and at the battery theres 13.95 (i charged the bat yesterday), so all should be good , thank you so much for your help, now to remove the old wire and put in a permanent one. again thank you. Cool
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Timwhy
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Who is that man behind the curtain?

It's the electrical Wizard, Crazyvwvanman!

Very nice work you two!!

Well Done!
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greenplasticme
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm having a very similar problem with my '83 Water-cooled Westy. Both the ALT & OSX lights are on when key is turned and ignition is on or off.

What I've done so far:

1) Disconnected the blue wire from the alternator. (Light still blinks)
2) Disconnected the blue wire from the alternator and completed the circuit (via paper clip/multimeter) Multimeter showed 0.

3) Tested connection up front where 14-point connector connects to wire connector. (Lights go off)

I am thinking the blue wire is at fault here. Just wondering how I go about replacing it?

Thanks
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NorthOf50
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PostPosted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 10:54 pm    Post subject: Re: Alternator light,? WHERE? Reply with quote

Bump on the topic since I can't find a better one.

I'm having a similar problem as the OP.

Alt light does not light with key on, eng off. When I ground blue alt wire with key on it lights (and I also measure 12V to Gnd thru it). Very rarely the alt light will light if eng running but it basically is just always off no matter what.

I have 12.6V @ Batt and @ Alt with all off.

I have 12.3V with eng on.

I have removed the alt, inspected the brushes and slip rings, both seem fine and not overly worn but not new. Alt is back in place, belts tight. Grounding is good from alt to body and ver'd against gnd from eng to body.

I have the Bentley but am having a hard time deciphering. pg 97.56 seems to show path 26 just going from alt (t1c) to t2b which would indicate that it's just a straight run from the alt to the dash. is this correct? The light does work when the blue is grounded so I'm pretty sure that the wire continuity must be good.

I have also tried manually exciting the alt from B+ to D- post but alt still just gives out 12.3V

Alternator fried? am I missing something else?

Thanks in advance.
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