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Re: Ignition light question

To: "Pat Bailey" <pbailey@qnet.com>, <mgs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Ignition light question
From: "Paul Hunt" <paul.hunt1@virgin.net>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 20:47:18 -0000
The ignition light should operate under two conditions:  when the ignition
is on and the engine isn't running, and immediately after the engine is
switched off but before it stops spinning.  If it does this then you know
some PO hasn't fitted the dreaded warning light diode and is a simple check
you can do from the driving seat.

If your ignition light didn't glow when you turned on the ignition but does
now that you have the new alternator then that indicates that the field
windings or connection to them on the old alt had failed - hence no charge.
Unfortunately the ignition warning light will only indicate loss of charge
if the continuity of the field circuit is still good.  But the saving grace
is that neither will it come on when you first turn on the ignition, and it
is this symptom that warns us that we may have a problem in the charging
department.  If, however, it fails at the beginning of a longish drive then
we will get caught out.

PaulH.
http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.hunt1/

-----Original Message-----
From: Pat Bailey <pbailey@qnet.com>
To: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: 11 March 1999 04:29
Subject: Ignition light question


>Hi all
>I have  a question about the
>ignition light on my '79 B how is
>supposed to work?I went for a putt
>the othere day and all of a sudden
>my radio started acting strange the
>display flashing then it quit
>altigether I stopped for lunch and
>when I came out the battery was dead
>so I pulled the battery and took it
>to a auto parts store and they
>tested it, it had 12 V but dropped
>badly under load so being as it was
>5 yrs old I replaced the battery Now
>tonight I went out to start the car
>and the battery ran down quickley
>and it wouldn't start so I pulled
>the altenator and took it over to
>Lindy's auto parts and had IT tested
>and it was dead so I got a rebuilt
>one for $63.Now my question...I
>thought the ignition light was
>supposed to glow if the altenator
>stopped charging.Mine didn't glow at
>all even when turning on
>initially,now it glows when turning
>on and goes out when the engine
>starts.What good is it if it won't
>tell you if the alt isn't charging?I
>like to have  a gauge!
>Pat
>
>


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