Alternator URGENT HELP!!!
 

Hello,

my 914 is not charging and the red light is NOT on in the dashboard, what should I check? Belt is in place and in perfect condition same as the regulator.

Help appreciated as I'm in a classic rally.

Thanks.

Josep

How do you know the alternator is not charging? If the light is not on and the batt. is going dead then that generally means a loose wire as the dash light gives an indication of current flow direction. If it is off the either current is flowing correctly or the wires are not connected or possibly the bulb has burned out?

First thing to check is the light. Does it have 12v on one side with the key on? If not, fix that (hint: check the fuses). Next, once it has voltage and the light's still nolt on, unplug the alternator harness at the engine relay/fuse panel. Using a jumper wire, ground the relay board pin where the RED wire was plugged in. That'll be the more forward of the 2 outer wires. If the light illuminates, you have an alternator or regulator problem. There are tests for those problems, but they require equipment you probably don't have.

Check the voltage regulator. If it comes unplugged, the alt light will not light up and the battery will not charge. I thought my voltmeter was just going funny until the engine started cutting out when the turn signal was on...

--DD

Before you start digging into the dash and wiring, put a simple volt/ohmmeter ($5 at Harbor Freight; free if you have the coupon) on the battery terminals while the car is running. A properly-charging alternator should show ~13.5V.

THEN you can dig out the tools to dive into the dash and wiring.

If the bulb isn't working, the alternator won't be charging. It doesn't matter whether there's no voltage to the bulb, or the bulb is burned out.

The Cap'n

it just happen to me new batt and alt $500.00 , it was the bulb, NOW I KNOW

Damage to the regulator and the diodes in the altenator will also result with the light not working or atleast thats what I was told.
Gregs reply is the best so far,start with the basics and go from there.

I recently had this issue. It was a dead bulb. The filament looked okay upon visual inspection but when tested, it would not light.

The alternator bulb is part of the circuit. If the bulb is burned-out, there will be no current to the battery for charging.

was it just bad bulb?
 

:confused: so how about you tell us the answer ??????????????

was it just a bad bulb?

Hello,

thanks all, at last the problem was the alternator itself. Had to install a replacement one.