generater light - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

caseychoptop · 11-01-2006, 12:52 PM

little question regarding the generater light on the dash board, not having had this truck long and not used it at night much i havent noticed before but just used my truck and the generater light stays on, is it meant to do this

if not what does it mean

ps where should the main beam indicator be on the dash

caseychoptop · 11-01-2006, 03:02 PM

does anyone have any ideas, dont want to drive my truck if the battery is not charging

sneakysnake · 11-01-2006, 03:14 PM

Sounds like your "not" charging. The light should only come on before the motor starts.If you have a multimeter check the voltage at the battery before starting, should be around12.7 or so then after truck is running should be around 13.9 to 14.9. The high beam indicator is at top of the speedometer.

67ChevyRedneck · 11-01-2006, 03:15 PM

Typically the "generator light" should turn on when you turn the key on, then it should turn off when you start the truck. It means your truck has a bad battery, alternator, or voltage regulator. BUT with these trucks being so old, something may be hooked up wrong somewhere, or came unhooked, or has a bad ground wire.

I circled the high beam indicator light, (I think that's what you were asking about)

67ChevyRedneck · 11-01-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakysnake

Sounds like your "not" charging. The light should only come on before the motor starts.If you have a multimeter check the voltage at the battery before starting, should be around12.7 or so then after truck is running should be around 13.9 to 14.9. The high beam indicator is at top of the speedometer.

OOPs, I was a little slow, oh well.

caseychoptop · 11-01-2006, 04:56 PM

could anypost a pic of the voltage regulater please and where it is locatted, still trying to find my way around this truck not having had anything like this before, also pic of the generator would be great aswel please, cheers for everyone help

67ChevyRedneck · 11-01-2006, 05:49 PM

The generator is just another word for the alternator, but depending on your motor it could be on DS or PS. It would be at the front of the motor with a few wires going to it. It's one of the belt driven items.

The voltage regulator is a little black box on the driverside of the core support at the front of the engine. It should be on the backside (engine side) of the core support and have a wire harness going to it. These typically don't go bad. Places like autozone should be able to test both your battery and alternator for you. My guess would be a bad battery or alternator.

alblogg · 11-01-2006, 06:37 PM

I don't know if they have any Auto Zones in England yet there 69ChevyRedneck but I borrowed one of your pictures to give him an idea. I circled the alternator (generator) the regulator is a small black box on the radiator support follow your wires from the alternator and you will find it.

chevybill · 11-01-2006, 06:53 PM

You can also start your truck and remove a battery cable with the truck running and if it dies, it is running off the battery.

caseychoptop · 11-02-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevybill

You can also start your truck and remove a battery cable with the truck running and if it dies, it is running off the battery.

if it dies when i remove the battery wire while running does that mean it needs a new battery

sneakysnake · 11-02-2006, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseychoptop

if it dies when i remove the battery wire while running does that mean it needs a new battery

NO. it means your charging sys is not working.

67chevemall · 11-02-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakysnake

NO. it means your charging sys is not working.

This is a simple and great test.
You can tell right away if it is your Alt or Batt

Cheers

67ChevyRedneck · 11-02-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alblogg

I don't know if they have any Auto Zones in England yet there 69ChevyRedneck but I borrowed one of your pictures to give him an idea. I circled the alternator (generator) the regulator is a small black box on the radiator support follow your wires from the alternator and you will find it.

I kept looking at that picture (before I read your post) thinking, damn, that engine bay looks REALLY familiar

Guess I didn't recognize it 'cause the truck is blue now

sneakysnake · 11-02-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67chevemall

This is a simple and great test.
You can tell right away if it is your Alt or Batt

Cheers

If the battery was bad the truck wouldnt turn over or was draining over night . A bad battery wont make the alt or gen light come on.Also this is a good way to knock the diodes in the alt.

caseychoptop · 11-02-2006, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakysnake

If the battery was bad the truck wouldnt turn over or was draining over night . A bad battery wont make the alt or gen light come on.Also this is a good way to knock the diodes in the alt.

di the test by removing battery lead, it was the battery that was knackered, picking up new battery in the morning, what will be causing the generator light to come on then if not the battery????

sneakysnake · 11-03-2006, 11:07 AM

When you pulled the wire off the battery did the truck die?

67chevemall · 11-03-2006, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakysnake

When you pulled the wire off the battery did the truck die?

so what happened?

The truck stayed running when you pulled the wire off?

67chevemall · 11-03-2006, 11:16 AM

OT this is good to know. Even when you upgrade to the 7 gauge dash, I belive it is a great benifit to keep a gen light.
If somebody knows where the gen light gets its current from I might hook one up.

sneakysnake · 11-03-2006, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67chevemall

OT this is good to know. Even when you upgrade to the 7 gauge dash, I belive it is a great benifit to keep a gen light.
If somebody knows where the gen light gets its current from I might hook one up.

pic

sneakysnake · 11-03-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67chevemall

so what happened?

The truck stayed running when you pulled the wire off?

If the it stays running then your alt is putting out.If the truck dies then you have a charging problem.

caseychoptop · 11-03-2006, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakysnake

If the it stays running then your alt is putting out.If the truck dies then you have a charging problem.

the truck stayed running when i pulled the battery lead, so have new battery, not fitted yet as been working, should the gen light go out with new battery fitted?

sneakysnake · 11-03-2006, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseychoptop

the truck stayed running when i pulled the battery lead, so have new battery, not fitted yet as been working, should the gen light go out with new battery fitted?

If the old battery was starting the truck,and the truck would run unhooked from the battery then I doubt the new battery will make the light go out.
What normally turns on the alt light is an internal short to ground.So its possible that even though its charging somethings not quit right.
What I would do if the new battery doesnt cure it is replace the voltage regulator(external) and have the alt spun tested at a parts store but that may not be a solution judging from your location.

caseychoptop · 11-04-2006, 12:49 PM

new battery is in, gen light is still on but alot dimmer, truck has the upgrade to altenater so voltage regulater should be bypass right

sneakysnake · 11-06-2006, 11:58 AM

If you have the "internal" voltage regulator it should be wired like the diagram in post#19. I bet you are going to have to replace or rebuild the Alt.

caseychoptop · 11-06-2006, 03:43 PM

altenater has been tested and is all good , looks like the last owner did the upgrade anyway so doesnt look that old, any other ideas to way the gen light is staying on

11-01-2006, 03:02 PM	#2
caseychoptop Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: paignton united kingdom Posts: 50	Re: generater light does anyone have any ideas, dont want to drive my truck if the battery is not charging

11-01-2006, 03:14 PM	#3
sneakysnake It's a catastrophic success. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,077	Re: generater light Sounds like your "not" charging. The light should only come on before the motor starts.If you have a multimeter check the voltage at the battery before starting, should be around12.7 or so then after truck is running should be around 13.9 to 14.9. The high beam indicator is at top of the speedometer.

11-01-2006, 03:15 PM	#4
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: generater light Typically the "generator light" should turn on when you turn the key on, then it should turn off when you start the truck. It means your truck has a bad battery, alternator, or voltage regulator. BUT with these trucks being so old, something may be hooked up wrong somewhere, or came unhooked, or has a bad ground wire. I circled the high beam indicator light, (I think that's what you were asking about) Attached Images __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

11-01-2006, 04:56 PM	#6
caseychoptop Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: paignton united kingdom Posts: 50	Re: generater light could anypost a pic of the voltage regulater please and where it is locatted, still trying to find my way around this truck not having had anything like this before, also pic of the generator would be great aswel please, cheers for everyone help

11-01-2006, 05:49 PM	#7
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: generater light The generator is just another word for the alternator, but depending on your motor it could be on DS or PS. It would be at the front of the motor with a few wires going to it. It's one of the belt driven items. The voltage regulator is a little black box on the driverside of the core support at the front of the engine. It should be on the backside (engine side) of the core support and have a wire harness going to it. These typically don't go bad. Places like autozone should be able to test both your battery and alternator for you. My guess would be a bad battery or alternator. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

11-01-2006, 12:52 PM	#1
caseychoptop Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: paignton united kingdom Posts: 50	generater light little question regarding the generater light on the dash board, not having had this truck long and not used it at night much i havent noticed before but just used my truck and the generater light stays on, is it meant to do this if not what does it mean ps where should the main beam indicator be on the dash Last edited by caseychoptop; 11-01-2006 at 02:54 PM.

11-01-2006, 06:37 PM	#8
alblogg Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NC Posts: 62	Re: generater light I don't know if they have any Auto Zones in England yet there 69ChevyRedneck but I borrowed one of your pictures to give him an idea. I circled the alternator (generator) the regulator is a small black box on the radiator support follow your wires from the alternator and you will find it. __________________ '07 G6 Wife's car '00 Malibu stock, just a parts getter. '99 Blazer LT Loaded, K&N Filter, Pioneer Super Tuner,Viper '88 K1500 Cheyenne, 5.0, stock, bought new '86 Nissan 720 Trash Truck '69 C/10 step side, 307, all original, second owner, in process of restore. The person who says it cannot be done should not interrurt the person doing it. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality. Allen- Paintman Wrenchtwister Broompusher

11-01-2006, 06:53 PM	#9
chevybill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: calhoun city ms Posts: 940	Re: generater light You can also start your truck and remove a battery cable with the truck running and if it dies, it is running off the battery. __________________ ongoing 1970 c 10 lwb 1994 z-28 few mods.-owned since new 1978 vette silver/grey 25th anniv. paint

11-03-2006, 11:07 AM	#16
sneakysnake It's a catastrophic success. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,077	Re: generater light When you pulled the wire off the battery did the truck die?

11-03-2006, 11:16 AM	#18
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	Re: generater light OT this is good to know. Even when you upgrade to the 7 gauge dash, I belive it is a great benifit to keep a gen light. If somebody knows where the gen light gets its current from I might hook one up.

11-04-2006, 12:49 PM	#23
caseychoptop Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: paignton united kingdom Posts: 50	Re: generater light new battery is in, gen light is still on but alot dimmer, truck has the upgrade to altenater so voltage regulater should be bypass right

11-06-2006, 11:58 AM	#24
sneakysnake It's a catastrophic success. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,077	Re: generater light If you have the "internal" voltage regulator it should be wired like the diagram in post#19. I bet you are going to have to replace or rebuild the Alt.

11-06-2006, 03:43 PM	#25
caseychoptop Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: paignton united kingdom Posts: 50	Re: generater light altenater has been tested and is all good , looks like the last owner did the upgrade anyway so doesnt look that old, any other ideas to way the gen light is staying on

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