Wiring/charge issuses (non toyota)

[Punter]

Not a toyota but I though someone here might be able to help.

Car is a Pontiac Le Mans (shudder)

Its had a few miss firing issues, which I seem to have fixed. (mostly earthing issuse), I put a new good earth for the baterey to the body/engine, and redid the ground on the coil. plus all the other normal things you do to fix a miss fire. (plugs, leads, Cap, rotor and timing)

But now... The charge light is on. but its only on when the key is off or on ACC, as soon as I turn it to "on" the light gos out.

I've never seen this before and don't know how to fix it.

Any ideas?
Cheers Rob.

[matt dunn]

Yes seen it a few times,

Faulty alternator.

Matt

[Punter]

Hmmm... Bugger.

It would seem that something is draining the battery, would that be the alternator too, or is that some other problem?

Thanks Rob.

[l1ttle_d3vil]

but its only on when the key is off or on ACC, as soon as I turn it to "on" the light gos out.

the charge light on my car is on when the key is turned on too, but as soon as I start the engine and the alternator is being driven the light goes off.

nothing wrong with my alternator...

[Punter]

but its only on when the key is off or on ACC, as soon as I turn it to "on" the light gos out.

the charge light on my car is on when the key is turned on too, but as soon as I start the engine and the alternator is being driven the light goes off.

nothing wrong with my alternator...

Mines the complete opposite, charge light is on with the key in "off" and "acc" position, when its in the "on" position (either running or not) the light is off.

[matt dunn]

Yeah common problem.

The main positive diodes are gone in the alternator.

this lets power back thru to the stator and out the exciter diodes to the warning light wire and the rotor field current.

This means power is going thru the alt light in reverse direction,
power on the earth side and the light is earthing out thru the ign system.
When you turn on the key, there is power on both sides of the light bulb so it goes out.

In short, it's fukt, and is running the battery flat when the car is sitting.

Pontic probably some delco shitta alternator on there,
unless it's an aussie assembled that will have a decont bosch one.

Matt

[Punter]

Its stuffed

Cool, so that should have the pontiac back on the road for one more week (if I'm lucky).

Can I get this repaired? Second hand parts for these are reasonable hard to find, and new ones tend to cost more than the car does.

Cheers for your help.

[matt dunn]

Its stuffed

Cool, so thats should have the pontiac back on the road for one more week (if I'm lucky).

Can I get this repaired? Second hand parts for these are reasonable hard to find, and new ones tend to cost more than the car does.

Cheers for your help.

depends on the type.

worth looking at both s/h and repaired options.

matt