weird dash lights

[rwd_mayhem]

in my 1980 ae70 SE all of a sudden when i start the car two big red lights come on, one being the charge light and the other is a little pic of something with like heat waves coming off it and japanese writing next to it, what is this light? once you start driving round 4000rpm it turns off and only comes back on when you slow down (low revs in high gear its still off). it hasnt effected the car in anyway and starts just a good as it always has.

[Jazza]

Got a pic? Photo it

[sergei]

one for battery another for cat over heat, most likely your alternator is halfway dead (or badly slipping belt). They come on both becuase they share same part of the circuit.

[RS13]

Yeah, if its the cat light (the one with the little box thing with heatwaves coming off it) and the charge light, its' the alternator. If its' doing it irregularly, check all the connections, because when the lights are on, your battery isn't getting charged. Run a multimeter over it when the lights aren't on, and when they are, you'll see what I mean.

[rwd_mayhem]

wow i didnt realise a 1980 car had a cat convertor, insane. ill check the belt and connections 2moro when there is light. o yea and now its just on all the time wont go away but still starts fine

[RS13]

I'd say its' time to replace the alternator. Better than sitting in the car at work, in the rain, listening to the 3A struggle to crank with a dead battery, wishing you'd just listened to the guys on the forum, and replaced that damn alternator..

Just as an aside, I had an older Integra, the cat/charge lights flickered on as I was driving from Queenstown to Christchurch, just out of the Lindis Pass, being a noob I though nothing of it, got to Ashburton, put my headlights on.. and the car died. Being carb, I'd say you'd have another 5-10 decent cold starts.

Replace it!

[rwd_mayhem]

god dammit! anyone got a 3a-u altenator? maybe ill just take it off the road when that dies and start stripping it for the 4age.

[rwd_mayhem]

you were so very right rs13, i replaced it and no more problems, cheers for your help mate.

[RS13]

No worries!