Ignition Warning Light glowing while running

[Vanden Perre]

Can someone help please?
Since recently the ignition warning light of my S3 no longer stop glowing once the engine is running. I drove the car 60-70 miles since this occurred and the battery is still working normally. To me it looks as if the generator is still working all right.
What could cause the warning light not stopping glowing??
Thanks.

Olivier.

[billwill]

Does your car still have a DC Dynamo or has it been converted to an AC alternator?

~~~~~~~~
In my experience, if you have an alternator and you get that constant glowing, it usually means that the diode pack in the alternator has destroyed itself.

The best cure is to fit a replacement alternator, but you can change the diode pack yourself if you can use a soldering iron.

~~~~~~~~~
If you still have a dynamo those symptoms can (I think) be caused by a faulty regulator box. Clean the relay-like contacts, that might fix it.

[Vanden Perre]

Bill,
You are right. I forgot to mention something important. I still have the generator.
Olivier.

[Mazzini]

Dear Olivier,

If you're feeling really rich you could try one of these - http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/p ... tegory/141

Best,

Mazzini

[bob_rich]

Hi

If U have a dynamo it could just be the commutator brushes they sometimes stick and their resistance goes up and the generator can supply a bit of current but not enough to make up the full electrical load

best of luck

Bob

[m750rider]

Your generator is not working despite what you think. It could be the regulator, but most likely the generator itself. Get it off the car and tested.

[Elanman99]

Have you tried a new bulb?

Ian

[billwill]

Have you tried a new bulb?

Ian

His bulb is glowing continuously, so it's not due to the bulb.

[Elanman99]

Have you tried a new bulb?

Ian

His bulb is glowing continuously, so it's not due to the bulb.

Its OK, I have put the wine bottle down now!

Ian

[friedy]

I have an alternator on my +2. and I have the warning light glowing on tick over it dulls off at around 1600 rpm and is then very faint. Is this that its just not running fast enough.

Alan.

[c42]

Hi Alan

No, I am afraid that you will need the alternator repaired or replaced.

Regards
John

[friedy]

thanks John,

I will get it checked out then, I was thinking it was ok as the volt meter shows charging and 13 volts when over the 1600rpm.

alan.

[prezoom]

It appears the Elan is similar to the lump I am working on at the present time. In that, the ignition warning light requires battery voltage from two directions to extinguish the light. The light first gets its voltage from the ignition key. Then gets voltage from the regulator/control box, back fed, when the engine is started and the generator starts charging. If the back fed voltage is not present, the light will not extinguish. Believe me, I had the same sort of problem, and chased what I thought were generator/control box problems, until I found an open circuit from the control box. You might check the wiring between the control box and the warning light.

Rob Walker
26-4889

[Vanden Perre]

To m750rider, you were right. The dynamo was broken. I brought it to a workshop and they noticed that the bronze bushing and the end opposite to the pulley had so much play that the rotor touched the stator and was damaged and in short circuit. I decided to buy a new one and just finished to install it. But.....see other post.
Olivier.