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Author Topic: Gen light stays on  (Read 6675 times)
Not Happy Jan
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« on: December 28, 2021, 02:51:15 PM »
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OK Brains trust. I have been working on the lights. I replaced the light switch with one from rares. Still no lights. Put an old one on and had highbeam only. and no high beam indicator light. Testing pointed to the dimmer switch. Ordered a new one... then found 2 in my stash!!. Replaced the dimmer switch and bingo. All lights work and so does the highbeam light. Now the generator light comes on all the time even with ignition off. I unhooked what i had hooked up and the gen light is still on?? WTF could i have done??
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« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2021, 07:21:53 PM »
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Are the tell-tale lamps in their correct sockets: brown wire to GEN, dark blue wire to OIL, dark green wire to TEMP?

The GEN light is only supposed to come on when the ignition's on.  But the GEN light is on, always.  If the ignition circuit is getting power always, then the OIL lamp should be on, and the ignition coil will be getting power. So -

Is the OIL light on as well?  Do you have +12 V at the coil positive terminal, even with the ignition off?

Always disconnect the battery negative lead before working on the car's wiring.

As a first step, I would suggest disconnecting both red wires from the light switch.  Tape up the wire terminals to avoid letting the magic smoke out when reconnecting the battery.   Reconnect the battery.  Does the GEN light come on?

Rob
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« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2021, 01:29:24 PM »
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Hi Rob,
The tell tale lamps are in the right sockets.
No oil light just the gen light. I don't have power at the coil when the ignition is off.
Disconnected the power wires from the light switch and the gen light is still on.
??
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« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2021, 06:08:25 PM »
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The plot thickens.

Is your charging system as per the shop manual - do you have a generator and regulator?  Or has an alternator been fitted?

The next questions assume you have a generator, and that the red wires are still disconnected from the light switch.

Disconnect the pink wire from the IGN terminal of the ignition switch.  Reconnect battery.  Does the GEN lamp light up?  If yes, then -

Disconnect the brown wires (D+) from both the regulator and generator.   Reconnect battery.  Does the GEN lamp light up?  If yes, then -

Measure the voltage at the (now disconnected) pink IGN wire and the brown (D+) wire.  Do you get +12 V at either?

Rob
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« Reply #4 on: January 01, 2022, 07:47:39 AM »
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Hi Rob,
Yes it is charging. I have a volt gauge and its reading a charge.
I disconnected the pink wire from the ignition switch and the gen light still came on. I then disconnected the D+ wire from gen and reg. Light OFF?
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« Reply #5 on: January 01, 2022, 08:16:14 AM »
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Regulator is hot
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« Reply #6 on: January 01, 2022, 10:27:07 AM »
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Disconnect the fat red B+ wire from the regulator and tape over the fork terminal so it won't short to ground.  Reconnect battery.  Is the GEN light off?

Then, lightly touch the brown wire to the D+ terminal of the generator.  A loud splat and a bright spark are bad.  If you can make the connection without fireworks, check the GEN light again.  Is it on?

Rob
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« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2022, 12:01:12 PM »
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with everything else off or back wired up?
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« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2022, 12:16:14 PM »
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Hey Rob,
with everything connected back up and disconnecting the red lead to the regulator Gen light goes off.
connect back the red wire and a little spark, not much and the gen light came on. Faulty regulator???
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« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2022, 01:22:53 PM »
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Yep.  Regulator unhappy.

Inspect the wiring at the regulator and generator for signs of overheating: melted or charred insulation, exposed wires, that sort of thing.  If it looks OK, then -

Reconnect the power wires to the light switch.  Reconnect the pink wire to the IGN terminal of the ignition switch.  Leave the regulator completely disconnected.  Reconnect the brown wire to the D+ terminal of the generator.  Reconnect the battery.  There should be no sparking as you connect the battery.  GEN light off?  Good.  Turn the ignition on.  OIL and GEN lights on, power at the coil (+) terminal?  Good.

If OIL light on and power at coil (+), but no GEN light, turn ignition off.  Disconnect brown wire from D+ terminal of generator and connect it to the generator body - there's a screw right by the D+ and DF terminals for this.  Turn ignition on.  GEN light on?

Rob
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« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2022, 02:19:03 PM »
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Hey Rob,
Regulator disconnected . all else wired up. No Gen light . Oil and gen when ignition on.
Nick
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« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2022, 02:48:12 PM »
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Nick,

Bonus.  If you're brave, I can run you through a quick test to see if the generator's still OK.  GEN light on with ignition on is a good sign, though.  But first - Lucas or Bosch?

Rob

(PS - Send me your regulator.  I'll see whether it can be saved, and if not, I have many spares.)
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« Reply #12 on: January 01, 2022, 03:16:55 PM »
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Lucas
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« Reply #13 on: January 01, 2022, 03:17:41 PM »
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Well I think . It has no markings on it . I have lucas lights
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« Reply #14 on: January 01, 2022, 04:24:58 PM »
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The regulator will tell you.  Lucas regulators have an aluminium cover.  Bosch regulators have a black cover.  In either case they have the maker's name stamped into them.
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« Reply #15 on: January 01, 2022, 04:31:31 PM »
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Looks aftermarket. ECHLID.
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« Reply #16 on: January 01, 2022, 04:32:28 PM »
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Black cover. Not like my bosch one . Not stamped.
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« Reply #17 on: January 01, 2022, 04:36:07 PM »
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« Reply #18 on: January 01, 2022, 04:48:02 PM »
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Echlin.  That'll be an aftermarket Lucas replacement.

A photo of the rear of the generator would be enormously helpful, just to confirm identity . . .
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« Reply #19 on: January 01, 2022, 04:49:42 PM »
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