Alternator light

G

gus3500s

New Member
Hi folks,

I have a 72 3500s and since i have had it the alternator light has never worked.I have had the bulb out,and all seems to be fine.The car has never dropped in charge,the ammeter gauge seems to show a charge,and the alternator feels warm to the touch when running,which to me indicates a sufficent charge.

The battery has never required a charge,and the car has been used with light's,heater etc.

Any help,would be much appreciated.

Angus.
 
Hmm! Due to our ongoing 2200 charging problems I recently found out via the forum & W/M that the charging circuit runs through the light & that if it doesn't work then the battery will not be charged except at very high revs. So yours is charging despite the light never having worked. I can't offer a solution but it seems your system is charging even though it shouldn't be in theory. Unless you're driving around very fast. :wink:
 
The 2200 has the ACR alternator and as you say, needs the warning light to be working for it to charge, but a 1972 3500S has the 11AC alternator with the seperate regulator and warning light control, which can under certain circumstances charge without the warning light working, dependant on which part of the system is at fault. (Often the warning light control, or the bulb itself. The regulator is also adjustable.)
 
Thanks for the replies so far,

I'm currently working away but home soon,and i shall investigate the regulator issue's further,on my return.

Cheers just now.

Gus.
 
Hello again,

Still having problem's with this light.The car seems to run fine,and i'm fairly sure that it's charging,as there has been no charge required over the winter storage period,and there is no dimming or lazy functions of the electrics.

Today i stripped off the dash cover and put a test lamp on the bulb holder,and there is power getting through,but no matter how many bulbs i try,i can't seem to get one to light up??.The test lamp lights no problem,but i can't understand how the circuit is complete yet the bulb remains unlit.When i put the lamp on the terminal on the back of the alternator with engine running,it remains lit and won't go out,even with increased revs???! :?: .I'm planning on recruiting a sparky from Cape Canavrel if this continues........and i've not even started on fuse box issues!!!.

Any thoughts?.

Cheers.Gus
 
It is probably the 3AW warning light control unit that is faulty, it looks like a flasher unit but has a green sticker on it, mounted near the 4TR. Your test light will always light up if you test the warning lamp as there is a feed from the ignition to one side of the bulb, the other side of the bulb is not earthed but is connected to the 3AW unit.
 
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