No, unplug the wire, then touch a test-light between battery positive and
the little terminal ON the alternator. If it lights, and the dash light
still doesn't when it's reconnected, then it's definitely the light bulb,
fuse to it, or it's wiring.
This trick will also "start" the alternator if done while the engine is
running. Once it does, the light will go out. If the alternator is
charging, it will illuminate the light if you go from battery negative to
the little terminal on the alternator. (while engine is running) Basically,
if you do this test on a good car, you will never see your bulb light, if it
does, it's because it's not getting power from the existing bulb and
circuitry.
DO NOT ground ANY terminals on alternator while it is running! Also, the
big terminal is going directly to the Positive terminal on the battery, so
remember this! If you ground the little terminal with the engine running,
it will fry one or more diodes, and possibly your test lead. You can try
this trick ONLY while the engine is NOT running, but the key is on.
Grounding will light the dashboard light IF the alternator is bad and the
wiring and light is good.
-Phil
----- Original Message -----
From: "kenneth parker" <elkeni@mac.com>
To: "(Phil)" <yes_this_is_really_my_email_address@mindfart.com>
Cc: "'Peugeot List'" <peugeot-l@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Peugeot-L] another unsolved mystery
> Phil,
> Before I do anything stupid (my strong suit) let me make sure that I
> understand what you are saying.
> 1. If I hook a test lead, with one end of the alligator clip grounded
> and touch the other end of the lead to the small push-on wire on the
> alternator with the ignition turned on the light should light up
> (assuming that it is not the bulb or wiring leafing to the bulb)?
> 2. If, when the engine is running, I hook up a test lead to the battery
> + terminal and momentarily touch it to the same little wire than, if the
> alternator is good it should start charging? Is this what is referred to
> as "energizing the field?"
> Thanks,
> Ken
> On Mar 4, 2005, at 4:26 PM, (Phil) wrote:
>
>> The light HAS to be on before start. If it is not, the alternator will
>> never start charging. Believe it or not, a burnt-out light bulb will
>> actually break the charging system.
>>
>> If you ground the "little wire" the normally connects to the alternator,
>> you should get a light when the ignition is on. If not then it's the
>> bulb or wiring/fuses to the bulb. If you DO, then it's a fault in the
>> alternator. (Bad brushes will do this) There is also a relay in the
>> fusebox that may feed power to this light (I cant remember for sure).
>>
>> In a pinch you can use a test lead and momentarily supply +12v to this
>> small wire when the engine is running. This should start the alternator
>> charging if it is good. DO NOT leave it connected for more than an
>> instant though, unless you limit current. (A 12v lightbulb makes a fine
>> limiter ;-)
>>
>> BTW: If my guess is correct, you have not seen the last of your
>> Tachymetric relay problems. If you overheat a connector in a
>> high-current circuit, you almost always will have a failure if you do
>> not repair it.
>>
>> -Phil
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "kenneth parker" <elkeni@mac.com>
>> To: "'Peugeot List'" <peugeot-l@yahoogroups.com>
>> Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 4:16 PM
>> Subject: [Peugeot-L] another unsolved mystery
>>
>>
>>>
>>> After installing the tachymetric relay that I got, used, from a friend
>>> near my house I tested the car and it worked fine. I arrived home with
>>> a feeling of satisfaction and buttoned up the under-the-steering-wheel
>>> plastic. Everything seemed to check out and I was all set to set out
>>> to Los Gatos (60 miles from my home) where I work on Fridays as a
>>> guitarist.
>>>
>>> Just before loading up my car I started it one more time and noticed
>>> that the battery light did not illuminate when I put the key in the
>>> "on" position. I thought that the small wire to the alternator might
>>> have disconnected. I checked it and it was fine as were the other two
>>> wires and the wire to the plastic (maybe a resistor of some kind) on
>>> the opposite side of the alternator.
>>>
>>> I tested the voltage across the battery and got 12.5, with or without
>>> acceleration. I got the same stat from the terminal at the rear of the
>>> alternator.
>>>
>>> My questions with regard to this latest curve thrown my way are:
>>>
>>> 1. What might have disconnected that is accounting for the system
>>> not charging? and,
>>> 2. In the past when the system isn't charging the battery light
>>> would flicker. How come there is no battery light illuminating in the
>>> instrument cluster?
>>>
>>> 3. Might I have undid something when I installed the relay and the
>>> plastic under the steering wheel?
>>> Thanks and sorry for the onslaught of mysteries,
>>> Ken
>>>
>>>
>>>
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Received on Sun Mar 6 12:35:20 2005
