Well guys I'm not sure what happened but it seems my previous post might have been eaten by the site software. I posted about this problem last night but for the life of me I can't find it anymore. Also, I was not able to get on this site all last night or most of today so I'm assuming there must have been a problem. Anway, here's the problem.....
Last week I had a problem with getting no warning lights on the dash when I turned my key to position two. I was also pretty certain that the alternator wasn't charging and after using your troubleshooting suggestions I confirmed this. Now after having the alternator rebuilt and re-installing I found that I still had no dash lights which I traced down to a dirty ground that attaches from the alternator to the mounting bracket. I cleaned that connection and all was well again.
Well after finishing up the alternator install and being thrilled about having my lights again I then started the engine up for a test. I immediately noticed that the following lights did NOT go off with the engine started: brake warning light, bulb warning light, parking brake light and battery light. Now even though they didn't go off, they were glowing very dimly. For instance when I pullled the car outside where there was bright sunshine you couldn't even see them. Even though, I know they are not supposed to be on at all with the car running so I began trying to track the problem down.
Now after posting this last night a couple of people made some great suggestions (thanks!). The only problem is that none of these worked.
What I did was run a new small red wire from the gray connector to the alternator. I totally removed the red wire from the gray connector and ran this test wire hooked direct to the red coming out from under the dash. After having done this I then started the car and the same thing happened. Dim lights on the dash but not out like they should have been. I then pulled the cluster to start doing some testing. According to my Haynes manual the instrument cluster gets its power from a little plug that comes directly off of the ignition. If i remember correctly this is a blue/yellow wire. When I tested for current at this point my test light came on with the key turned on. Then I went to the round connector (has TONS of wires coming out of it) and tested the Red wire there (the one that runs down to the alternator). Once again I have current at this connection as well. I then went outside the car (under the hood) and checked at both sides of the gray connector and at the alternator. 12 volts everywhere, but still when I start the engine I get the dreaded glowing dash lights.
Now if I'm thinking right, this HAS to be a ground problem andit HAS to be on the small red wire going to the alternator. I mean the big red wire simply goes from the battery to the starter to the alternator. Well since I've confirmed voltage (and ground) on the red wire, I don't see anyway that this can be the problem, especially since I verified the circuit by runnning a totally new wire that could not be and was not grounded.
Is there a chance that the alternator shop screwed up the rebuild? I mean I'm getting about 13.6 - 13.8 volts at the alternator with the car running. According to one post last night, this is an acceptable voltage for a healthy alternator but what else could be going on here? Honestly I'm about ready to give up and take it to my local mechanic. I hate paying for a service that I feel I can take care of myself but this thing is really starting to tick me off. If any of you have any ideas on what to do, please respond. I'm hoping to fix this myself but I'm going to have the car within a half mile of the mechanics tomorrow and if I don't get it fixed I know I'm going to let him have the headaches and stress associted with this.
Sorry this is so long but i wanted to give you all of the pertinent information. Btw, this is a 1986 240GL that I'm desperately trying to get road worthy (for my daughter and myself).
Thanks in advance guys,
Dave
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I dream of a world where a chicken can cross the road without having its motives questioned.