Alternator Light Won't Go Off

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Trow, Aug 8, 2014.

  1. Trow

    Trow Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2014
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    10
    Location:
    Fort Worth
    Vehicle:
    1974 Maverick
    So the alternator light on my 74 Mav stays on when the car is turned off. When it's running it turns off but as soon as I kill it the alternator light is back on... I had the alternator checked and its good, same with the battery. It's not a big deal that its on, I only care because it drains my battery if I don't disconnect the positive. I was thinking that it could be a fuse issue next. Any ideas?
     
  2. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2008
    Messages:
    8,067
    Likes Received:
    959
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    '74 Maverick 302 5-Speed.'60 Falcon V8. '63.5 Falcon HT
    It won't be a fuse because no fuse is in the charging system...it uses a fuse link. A bad voltage regulator might be your problem
     
  3. Mavman72

    Mavman72 Gone backwards but lookin' forward

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2007
    Messages:
    6,759
    Likes Received:
    272
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Location:
    Buffalo N.Y.
    Vehicle:
    1972 Maverick 2 door.Original V-8 3 spd std shift.Also a 72 one owner Sprint sporting a 351 Windsor
    Could be a short in the instrument cluster as well...
     
  4. Bryant

    Bryant forgot more than learned

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2007
    Messages:
    6,538
    Likes Received:
    153
    Trophy Points:
    203
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    71 Maverick
    the circuit that controls the light goes like this. power from the battery to the fuese block to the ignition switch to the dash light to the voltage regulator.
    when the ignition switch is off the light should not be able to be on. chances are your ignition switch is bad. i would guess the accessory circuit in the switch is shorted on all the time.
     
    rayzorsharp and blugene like this.
  5. Trow

    Trow Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2014
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    10
    Location:
    Fort Worth
    Vehicle:
    1974 Maverick
    Ill check my voltage regulator and my ignition switch. It's annoying having to disconnect my battery all the time.
     
  6. Pintony

    Pintony Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2008
    Messages:
    220
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    35
    Location:
    St louis
    Vehicle:
    Pinto
    My vote is for the switch. 74 switches had issues on Pintos too...
     
    rayzorsharp likes this.
  7. Trow

    Trow Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2014
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    10
    Location:
    Fort Worth
    Vehicle:
    1974 Maverick
    Tonight I realized that my speedometer, gas gauge, and left turn signal won't light up, but the lights on the bottom such can. Could this be related to a bad voltage regulator. It's probably unrelated but my gas gauge is stuck on E too, but that probably has to do with my tank and the sensor in there.
     
  8. Pintony

    Pintony Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2008
    Messages:
    220
    Likes Received:
    21
    Trophy Points:
    35
    Location:
    St louis
    Vehicle:
    Pinto
    Replace the Brass float in your tank .
     
  9. Bryant

    Bryant forgot more than learned

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2007
    Messages:
    6,538
    Likes Received:
    153
    Trophy Points:
    203
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    71 Maverick
    the lights in the dash are most likely burnt out. you may have some bad connections with the printed circuit in the dash but that wont have anything to do with the alternator light. the fuel gauge is usually one of 2 different things. the voltage regulator in the interment cluster or the sending unit. some basic testing with an ohm meter will determine what it is.
     

Share This Page