1971 Dash warning light?
 

I feel silly asking this very basic question and apparently I'm the first one since I cant find it in SEARCH...

What is this warning light on the dash? Mine stays on. Also, oil pressure barely reads when idling but acts as expected under acceleration, load and cruising.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1192096307.jpg

Hi John

Its your handbrake warning light!

Cheers mate!

Must have a bad switch or short maybe. The brake is definately off. Thanks.

Heh, I had the same two issues when I first got mine. My warning light was on only occasionally so I thought it had to do with the oil. It turns out that if the handbrake is up by only one notch, the light goes on.

My oil gauge also works like yours. Also, it goes up when the car gets warmer.

Not sure about a 73 but I believe the light also is tied into the master cylinder brake switch circuit. You may have a faulty switch or poor connection at the MC if the E brake switch checks out.

John, that is the alternator warning lamp. The handbrake lamp is the TOP lamp which is also the brake warning lamp.

If it stays on continuously after startup, your battery is not charging. Search under my name for "blue wire" for a wealth of information about how to fix.

The "G" means "Generator" in German which means. . . er. . . "Generator" in English. A holdover from 356/912 days!

Absolutely right. The top one is the handbrake :rolleyes:


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1192121875.jpg

Hmmm. Perhaps I missed a wire when installing the new alternator. The battery is most definately charging...I've run the car for 1 hour for a time on joy rides with no problems and it starts without a problem.

Only way to tell is to measure the voltage at the battery.

It starts fine until it doesn't.

And the upper "hand brake" light will glow faintly if there is a problem in the m/c. Usually that's a grounding issue or a reset (on the side of the m/c) issue. But, if it come back on, there's a problem.

John,
You mean check the voltage across the battery terminals (I get 12.57 all the time, new battery) or disconnect the ground to the battery while its running and check voltage or amperage across the ground strap to the battery neg terminal?

Whoops, sorry to lead you astray.......:(

Not enough time in the car lately!

John,

Thou shalt not ever disconnect the battery whilst the engine runneth lest ye fry thine electrial system, forsooth.

What I mean is, check the battery voltage with the engine running at the battery terminals. It should be at least 13.5v, if its 12.57, your alternator is not charging and the red light is a true indication that something is wrong. Which I believe it is.