Electrics again, Alternator warning light

[incorrigible]

My alternator warning light never comes on

It used to, but stopped, I guessed it was a blown bulb but after taking the dash top off and the speedo out last night (for no bloody reason) it isn't

Anyone got any suggestions where I should start looking, I'm off to Devon for the weekend so a warning if the alternator was packing up would be really usefull

[ribol]

Odds on if the alternator light does not come on then the alternator cannot charge, it needs the bulb to be working. Try disconnecting the warning light wire from the back of the Alternator and with the ignition on earth the wire out. If the bulb comes on then the problem is at the alternator end (bad news). If the bulb does not come on it is either the bulb (good news), the wiring from the alternator to the bulb or the live connection on the other side of the bulb. If you do not get it sorted in time it may be worth taking a spare charged battery with you!

Good luck,

Ivan

[incorrigible]

Tested the alternator, that's why the title of the thread isn't "duff alternator"

Only joking, 12 and a bit volts at the battery when all's off, 14ish when the engine is running, pretty sure it's not the alternator itself

[incorrigible]

At the risk of turning this into a "who has never worked on a car before" thread

I re-attached the warning light wire to the alternator in my lunch break and it all works fine now

At least I won't be bored tonight as I've got to re-fit the dash

What a twat

[apache]

at least you admitted it

[ribol]

There are not too many that would have put their hands up to that one, still, cheap repair, more money to spend in Devon

Ivan