Laura,
Your mechanic was right as far as he went. That symptom could also point to
several other things including a burned out bulb and a
loose or broken wire.
Basically, anything in that whole circuit that opens up the flow of electricity
will cause the light to stay off at all times.
Joe
Laura Gharazeddine wrote:
>
> > Run down to "Radio Shack" and buy a cheap voltmeter, VOM or DVM.
> > They can be purchased for about 10 bucks.
>
> Good idea!
>
> Voltage s/b around 12 volts.
> > without the engine running, and 13 volts with the engine charging.
> > If your light is not flickering and is off, then you most likely fixed the
> > problem.
>
> Ummm...I hate to break this to you all, watching for the red ign/alt light to
>come on, but...the last time my altenator went out, I was coming back from
>Ventura and by the time I was half way home, I noticed that my headlights were
>dimming and I didn't have any turnsignals-but the red ign light never came on.
>Car died 25miles from home, AAA came out and the guy was really nice, trying
>to trouble shoot the car. It was then that I noticed that the ign light didn't
>light up at all when I turned the key. Got home (with my last AAA free call)
>and put the battery on the charger. Noticed again after charging that the
>light didn't go on when I turned the key-but at least I had enough charge to
>run the car in daylight.
>
> According to my mechanic, that the ign light didn't come on at all was a
>symptom of a bad altenator. (This one lasted a WHOLE week!) When we got the
>replacement altenator on, guess what? The red light came on when I turned the
>key-as it's supposed to.
>
> Nigel's getting a voltmeter from Radio Shack for Christmas!
>
> Laura G.
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