Generator Light is On...Options - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bluec10 · 07-31-2009, 01:31 PM

The other night the Generator light on my '69 started to glow. It isn't bright, but is on. Just wanted to get people's opinion about what I should do - just replace the stock parts or take the opportunity to do some upgrading. The truck is bone stock with a 250 L6.

mclairmo · 07-31-2009, 02:06 PM

Check the volts on the battery with the engine running and see if it over 13 volts. If not, check the wiring and all the grounds. If ok, have the alternator tested. If bad, replace it with factory style. I have a chromed brand new 1 wire self exciting internally regulated 105 amp alternator and it sucks. It won't charge the battery at idle unless I rev the engine up to "turn on" the alternator so it will begin charging. Leave it stock. With the stock alternator and stock external mechanical voltage regulator it also makes your truck more EMP resistant which will be good for the upcoming nuclear war. You will be the only man in Manitoba with a working vehicle, until someone else kills you for it.

bluec10 · 07-31-2009, 02:18 PM

EMP resistant...I'd never thought of it. Imagine, Camaros on the shoulder to the left of me, Corvettes on the shoulder to the right of me, and the mighty '69 GMC marches on.

GruntyPants · 07-31-2009, 02:20 PM

I was able to upgrade my '67 to an internally regulated alternator very easily and couldn't be happier with it. You can do a search and find the step-by-step directions for the upgrade. You source a 1990-ish truck alternator which is a good amperage and is the most inexpensive. I'll see if I can dig up the instructions for you. But it's a common upgrade and well worth the extra work.

Yes, and stay away from the 1 wire alt's... not good for a daily driver.

Shawn

mikajo39 · 07-31-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclairmo

Check the volts on the battery with the engine running and see if it over 13 volts. If not, check the wiring and all the grounds. If ok, have the alternator tested. If bad, replace it with factory style. I have a chromed brand new 1 wire self exciting internally regulated 105 amp alternator and it sucks. It won't charge the battery at idle unless I rev the engine up to "turn on" the alternator so it will begin charging. Leave it stock. With the stock alternator and stock external mechanical voltage regulator it also makes your truck more EMP resistant which will be good for the upcoming nuclear war. You will be the only man in Manitoba with a working vehicle, until someone else kills you for it.

HAHA I used to try and keep my truck just as stock as possible because of that, but then I thought, I live a hop and a skip from the Lawrence Livermore Labs and If we did getnuked I'd probably be vaporised so what the hay lets upgrade!

Longhorn321 · 07-31-2009, 02:25 PM

I might be stating the obvious here and I mean no insult but have you checked the alternator belt tension?

bluec10 · 07-31-2009, 02:36 PM

No. I know I'm jumping way ahead, but I wanted hear people's opinions about whether to go with newer components or stick with the old mechanical voltage regulator.

fixit-p · 07-31-2009, 03:09 PM

Glowing gen light could be either over charging or under charging as already mentioned I would check your voltage w/ a multimeter and belt tension.

If your going to upgrade my vote is for a 12si 3 wire alt.

mclairmo · 07-31-2009, 06:33 PM

I live in San Diego and assume that I would be one of the first to get nuked with all the Navy stuff here. However, if I ever get my underground bomb shelter built, I may just make it long enough to get eaten by a C.H.UD. after I emerge from my underground lair. LOL.

retodd7711 · 07-31-2009, 07:59 PM

Seriously,guys?
Nuclear attack?
The real threat is from Zombies.
Plain and simple- Zombies will take anyone,anytime, anywhere-with no warning.
.
.
.
.
.
Do a full inspection before you make your decision.
Tension,voltage and wiring issues may be quick,cheap fixes.
And if the stock alternator held in there for almost 40 years, another stock unit will do the same.

mclairmo · 07-31-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retodd7711

Seriously,guys?
Nuclear attack?
The real threat is from Zombies.
Plain and simple- Zombies will take anyone,anytime, anywhere-with no warning.
.
.
.
.
.
Do a full inspection before you make your decision.
Tension,voltage and wiring issues may be quick,cheap fixes.
And if the stock alternator held in there for almost 40 years, another stock unit will do the same.

Fallout creates zombies. Everyone knows that. They go together like peaches and cream. I think a C.H.U.D is like a zombie.

mikajo39 · 07-31-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclairmo

Fallout creates zombies. Everyone knows that. They go together like peaches and cream. I think a C.H.U.D is like a zombie.

Mmmm zombie Peaches N' Cream

07-31-2009, 01:31 PM	#1
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Generator Light is On...Options The other night the Generator light on my '69 started to glow. It isn't bright, but is on. Just wanted to get people's opinion about what I should do - just replace the stock parts or take the opportunity to do some upgrading. The truck is bone stock with a 250 L6. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

07-31-2009, 02:06 PM	#2
mclairmo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Take Off Posts: 1,908	Re: Generator Light is On...Options Check the volts on the battery with the engine running and see if it over 13 volts. If not, check the wiring and all the grounds. If ok, have the alternator tested. If bad, replace it with factory style. I have a chromed brand new 1 wire self exciting internally regulated 105 amp alternator and it sucks. It won't charge the battery at idle unless I rev the engine up to "turn on" the alternator so it will begin charging. Leave it stock. With the stock alternator and stock external mechanical voltage regulator it also makes your truck more EMP resistant which will be good for the upcoming nuclear war. You will be the only man in Manitoba with a working vehicle, until someone else kills you for it.

07-31-2009, 02:18 PM	#3
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Generator Light is On...Options EMP resistant...I'd never thought of it. Imagine, Camaros on the shoulder to the left of me, Corvettes on the shoulder to the right of me, and the mighty '69 GMC marches on. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

07-31-2009, 02:20 PM	#4
GruntyPants Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kennesaw GA Posts: 95	Re: Generator Light is On...Options I was able to upgrade my '67 to an internally regulated alternator very easily and couldn't be happier with it. You can do a search and find the step-by-step directions for the upgrade. You source a 1990-ish truck alternator which is a good amperage and is the most inexpensive. I'll see if I can dig up the instructions for you. But it's a common upgrade and well worth the extra work. Yes, and stay away from the 1 wire alt's... not good for a daily driver. Shawn __________________ -- Shawn '67 Short Step '70 Short Wide Last edited by GruntyPants; 07-31-2009 at 02:20 PM.

07-31-2009, 02:25 PM	#6
Longhorn321 Size Matters Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lyman, SC Posts: 9,189	Re: Generator Light is On...Options I might be stating the obvious here and I mean no insult but have you checked the alternator belt tension? __________________ "Reading the owners manual is only for quitters." Jason Harper, Bloomberg News. ...WOOOO HOOOO!!!!

07-31-2009, 02:36 PM	#7
bluec10 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 663	Re: Generator Light is On...Options No. I know I'm jumping way ahead, but I wanted hear people's opinions about whether to go with newer components or stick with the old mechanical voltage regulator. __________________ Present: 2015 Tacoma. Yeah, not a GM, but I love it. 1969 GMC 32,000 - fix, drive, relax, fix... 2019 BMW R1250 GSA - Yahoooooooo 1979 Honda GL 1000 - retro touring at its best. Past: '05 Sierra 4x4 - Had 270,000 KM and running well when it was written-off by a stop sign runner. '94 F-150 from the "F word" company. I'll admit it...good truck. Sold what was left of it for $800 to a guy who came to pick it up at 11:00 PM with cash in hand. Hmm. '79 Sierra Grande (Black) organ donor - perfect rebuildable 4-bolt 350 and a good TH350. '76 Sierra Grande (Orange) - hate isn't too strong a word. Kid who bought it turned it into a hot rod. '68 C-10 R.I.P. - Dad's old truck...too far gone to resurrect. '59 C-50 - with hoist. Truck is gone, wife isn't. Nuff said.

07-31-2009, 06:33 PM	#9
mclairmo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Take Off Posts: 1,908	Re: Generator Light is On...Options I live in San Diego and assume that I would be one of the first to get nuked with all the Navy stuff here. However, if I ever get my underground bomb shelter built, I may just make it long enough to get eaten by a C.H.UD. after I emerge from my underground lair. LOL.

07-31-2009, 07:59 PM	#10
retodd7711 chrome makes it go FASTER! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cleveland Tennessee Posts: 2,884	Re: Generator Light is On...Options Seriously,guys? Nuclear attack? The real threat is from Zombies. Plain and simple- Zombies will take anyone,anytime, anywhere-with no warning. . . . . . Do a full inspection before you make your decision. Tension,voltage and wiring issues may be quick,cheap fixes. And if the stock alternator held in there for almost 40 years, another stock unit will do the same. __________________ She can't cook and she won't clean. But she looks good in a skirt and she brings me beer. She can stay for now. EDIT:: But she left me anyway, So forget her. 1962 GMC Stepside V6 4 speed My rolling resto thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=324226 My old farm truck http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post3465005



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