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View Full Version : Why is my Ignition light staying on?



GQ10
10th June 2010, 02:02 PM
This has been bugging me for a while and I have no idea what is going on?

When I start the car up in the morning the ignition light goes off like it should do.

As soon as I put my foot on the accelerator the light comes back on.

I'm guessing the alternator's got issues but I can't really see anything wrong.

Mind you i haven't looked properly at it but from a quick look it all seems fine?

Does anyone know why this would be happening?

Thanks!:confused:

White_GU
11th June 2010, 12:22 AM
I don't know much about alternators myself.. all I know is there isn't much to look at on the outside. Anything electrical, always check your earth connection relative to the problem. Doesn't sound like a fuse problem or a dashboard fault. It may be lighting up on acceleration because it IS faulty.. but I always thought things like that flashed on and stayed on. I guess it means your battery won't be getting charged so you need to look at this pronto or else she won't start soon.

I think there is just bushes and a coil inside the alternator. Might be worth testing to see if it's getting power to it when you accelerate in neutral. Maybe it's faulting because it isn't getting power? That would point to earth or some kind of connection problem in my mind.

the evil twin
11th June 2010, 09:05 PM
Could have lost 1 diode of 1 phase...

Start her up... let her idle... put a Voltmeter on the battery... should read at least 13.5 volts, 13.8 even better 14 or just over, kickin butt

Rev her up till the ign light comes on... recheck the voltage across the battery should be slightly higher than what you first got at idle.

Anything below 13 or above 15 and your diode pack or reg is knackered or you have a dodgy wiring issue... there are a coupla other things it could be but only like 1 in a hundred... check the voltages first

AB
11th June 2010, 10:58 PM
ET - your on fire! (insert some kind of smiley face thats on fire)

GQ10
27th June 2010, 10:34 PM
Sorry for the late reply and thanks for the suggestions.

ET, you were right, it was the diode.

Saved me a lot of heartache, thanks!

the evil twin
27th June 2010, 11:08 PM
Sorry for the late reply and thanks for the suggestions.

ET, you were right, it was the diode.

Saved me a lot of heartache, thanks!

Wow... finally got 1 right, now to work on the 9 I keep getting wrong

Good on ya for posting back confirming what the fault was as well. A lot of times people post up a fault and get heaps of suggestions (which might or might not fix) but don't post it up what fixed it in the end which never helps anyone doing a search.