Voltmeter & Battery Light

[chevyaddict]

Now that I have the brakes done, rearend fixed, wiper motor working and seal kits on the way for the headlights... time to fix this problem! I did a search but didn't find anything similar so thought I would post and ask!

My voltmeter has never worked and the battery light stays on all the time. The charging system has been fine the whole six years I've owned the car. All the wires appear to be hooked up appropriately on the alternator itself so my question is this. If the gauge itself is bad will this MANDATE that the battery light would stay on? In other words are these two indicators connected or are they separate indicators with their own wiring? If the former then I'm thinking my gauge is bad but if the latter then I'm thinking something else is the problem.

Thanks!

 

[srs244]

i know this is a stretch, but is your alternator original? i had a similar problem with my BB el camino when i changed a factory spec alternator for a new 1 WIRE alternator. it seems that the charging indicator system doesn't like to see the charging function of the 1 wire alternator like it does a regular 2 wire unit. my "gen" light went on and stayed on even thought the system was charging correctly and an auxilary voltmeter i have installed showed a proper charging rate. BTW, when i called the alternator manufacturer, they told me their 1 wire model had a removable plastic plug that exposed a regular 2 wire set of spade connectors. using them, turned the "gen" light right out. just something out of the ordinary that might help you out.

steve

 

[chevyaddict]

As a matter of fact I have replaced it... Autozone Lifetime warranty special. I don't know that there is such an animal on it to be a two-wire unit... but my question is when I put this on there, there wasn't an extra wire laying around not connected...wouldn't that be the case if I didn't rehook something back up? Could be that the person that had the car before me had replaced the alternator two and did something funky with the "extra connection"....

 

[srs244]

dawn
i guess the most important question would be, was your system reacting the same way BEFORE you changed out the alternator (no voltmeter and battery light on?)?? if so, i would guess (and it would JUST be a guess on my part), that there is probably another wire tucked away somewhere (or perhaps cut back to harness wrap). based on what i experienced, i would almost bet that is the issue here.

steve

 

[chevyaddict]

That's the thing... I can't recall. The car has sat more than I've driven it and the alternator was one of the first things I switched out... Honestly I don't know... I'm pretty sure that the voltmeter and gauge have always not worked.

Does anyone have a picture of the alternator on their 81 or 82 so I can see all the wires you have hooked up? That would help. Or, perhaps I can take a picture of mine and post it and you guys could comment!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Dawn,

There is a 2-wire connector that goes into the side of the alternator that is the +12V battery reference and the output to the gauges from the voltage regulator. The other connection is a bolt that is connected to a large gauge red wire that is the output of the alternator to charge the battery. There is a black wire that goes to ground that is attached at the case.

 

[chevyaddict]

Yea... that is standard.... so this then mandates that both the voltmeter and the little light is connected to eachother then yes??? In other words they do NOT have separate feeds coming from the alternator.... so if I fix that one connection both should work! Woo Hoo!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I believe that is correct.

The charging light and the gauge are both indicators of whether your battery is charging or not. They connect to the gauge cluster through the large multi-pin connector in the back if the console. You should be able to reach the connector if you take the glove box liner out and reach across the back of the console. Make sure that it is plugged in all the way. That will cause your gauge to stop working if it is partially unplugged, as well as your other gauges.

 

[chevyaddict]

Cool! I'll check that out... That seems easier than taking the whole gauge cluster out!
Thanks
Dawn