[lockdup]

Hi all,
I went for a wheel yesterday and it has matured me. NO MORE BOG HOLES. Anyway, when I got out my engin bay was covered in mud. Its very clean now, however the lights in my dash for the handbrake and battery dont turn off. Also the headlights arent very strong, nor is the heater. I have a falcon alternator in the car and it has been cleaned. I don't know what it can be. It otherwise runs fine.

Any ideas?

[royce]

check the battery voltage with the engine running, I would bet the alternator is cactus

[lockdup]

I hope not.....

[Bucket]

Sounds like an alternator.

So your saying after you gave it a wash down everything because sluggish and your lights came on?

I know my lights sometimes take a few days to dissapear after I wash my engine bay.

[lockdup]

Right after a mud drenching all of the problems began. Not a second later. There was still a problem after I washed it

[89_tintop]

definately alternator...

mud has gotten into the brush holder and has made them stick

[boballan82]

I have the same problem, I have changed my Alternator and it is charging at 14.2 - 14.5V at 1200 rpm. (Bloody Good)

I still have the problem. Mine occured after the fusible link blew due to blown Voltage regulator.

This use to happen when the voltage regulator on old holdens use to go.

I have looked at the circuit for this and there is a diode in the circuit than can cause this problem external to the Alternator.

I hope to have the vehicle later today to check it out.

I wil advise what I fine later today.

[lockdup]

Looks like it turned out to be a very expensive day

[boballan82]

No, I was lucky enough to get a few spares.

Even though the regulators them selves are about $80 from your local Auto elec.

If it is the diode they are about $2.00 at Dicksmiths

[lockdup]

That doesn't explain why the handbrake light doesn't turn off.

[lockdup]

Also how long will my battary last. Im not using the radio or lights. The car has an Optima Battary (Blue)

[Reubs]

lockdup wrote:

That doesn't explain why the handbrake light doesn't turn off.

Does it go off when the ignition is off? You probably have a short at one of the connectors in the loom or at the handbrake contact itself...

[Reubs]

boballan82 wrote:

I have changed my Alternator and it is charging at 14.2 - 14.5V at 1200 rpm. (Bloody Good)

Is that the voltage as measured at the battery terminals? That might be a bit harmful...

[Reubs]

Reubs wrote:

boballan82 wrote:

I have changed my Alternator and it is charging at 14.2 - 14.5V at 1200 rpm. (Bloody Good)

Is that the voltage as measured at the battery terminals? That might be a bit high...

[royce]

the dash has a test function to light the brake light up when you start it, goes out with the charge light

[lockdup]

Reubs wrote:

lockdup wrote:

That doesn't explain why the handbrake light doesn't turn off.

Does it go off when the ignition is off? You probably have a short at one of the connectors in the loom or at the handbrake contact itself...

when the ignition is off it does turn off

[boballan82]

Alternator Volatge should be measured at the Battery and should be between 14.25 to 14.75 V.

[boballan82]

If the diode is shorted is supplies an Alternate path for the brake Light and as such will bring it on, ans supplies a low voltage to the Hand Brake Switch.

[BlueSuzy]

lockdup wrote:

That doesn't explain why the handbrake light doesn't turn off.

Check your brake fluid?

It could be low and the sensor is going "I'm low, fill me!"

My handbrake light has flashed at me, but it was the low brake fluid moving around over the sensor.

[lockdup]

That I will check. Also My alternator is dead. Charge at 11.4 Volts before and after car was turned on. Is $260 cheap or steep for a new ford Altenator?

[89_tintop]

do you have knowledge on how to pull things apart and put it back together??

pull the alternator apart and cheack to see if the brushes are moving freely in there slides

[boballan82]

Just finished checking my problem, found that the diode was blown as well as the signal from the alternator for the Ind light is not supplying the required voltage.

Another regulator is needed even though it is charging OK.

[boballan82]

You can pick up an exchange Alternator from the wreckers for about $90.

Out local ford wrecker supplies them with 12 month warranty at that price.

Dandenong wreckers do the same thing.

[boballan82]

The Ind light works on a system that when the Alternator is charging it supplies voltage to both sides of the Battery light and as such the light is out.

The reason for the Hand brake light being on is that the light finds a path thru the Diode in the instrument panel and as such will bring on the light when there is no voltage present for the charge light from the alternator.

[lockdup]

Thanks Boballan82, I'll look into the wreckers. I was going to get it rebuilt for $130.