Charge Light Is Always On...

[YOguyDa]

When i bought my truck (see signature for year..etc), the charge light was on, and still is on. From what the guy said, the alternator, battery, and regulator were all replaced. Of course, the truck sat a couple more years before he decided to sell it. Since ive been using it as a daily driver, the charge light stays on, and the whole side of my truck is rotting away from all of the battery fumes and what-not. There is always corrosion built up on the terminals, no matter how often i clean them....And i just dont know where to start. Checked the alternator output with a volt meter, and its seems like its charging fine. Dont know what to do.. I dont mind the light being on...Its kind of pretty. lol, just wish i could figure out why the battery is boiling or whatever, cus id really like to clean it all up and stick it in a battery box. No point in doing that if its ganna eat away at my work once im finished...

Any ideas?

Thanks

[WHITE_TRASH]

What voltage is it putting out at 2500 rpm?

[YOguyDa]

I dont have a tach, but im a good guess ...Ill have to check tomorrow, when i can get my dad to hold down the gas.................and uuummm let me barrow his volt meter

[YOguyDa]

Oh yah...there is a throttle under the hood right?   hahaha....Still need the volt meter tho. Ganna have to do it after work, eventhough i probably won't feel like it .

[YOguyDa]

Im just too tired to drive over to my dads and check.....
I do remember that at idle it was putting out 14.7v where its supposed to be. Not sure if we checked around 2500rpm....

It was replaced a couple years ago....So, I'll just try another voltage regulator (to rule it out), and then return it, if that isnt the problem....Then i'll return to this post:).

[jr9162]

Good luck on returning a new voltage regulator you buy just for troubleshooting. If the parts store finds out u installed it, they'll probably not take it back. I know, happened to me.

I'd say if you're reading 14+ volts while the engine is running and the light fails to go out it' sone of two things. There's a blown fuse or your battery is so weak it hasn't fully charged. Check the voltage of the battery with the engine shut off.

[YOguyDa]

The battery is fully charged, if not 12v its 12.3v or so....And do you mean a fuse on the fuse panel? Cus all of them are good....I ran into a tricky lil b*std Fuse! not too long ago (cant remember which one). The element inside was perfect(even checked with a magnifying glass), both ends were tight on it, and it wasnt continent ....So i went ahead and stuck a volt meter on every single fuse just to be sure....All were good. Maybe its the charge light relay? But either way, my battery is still being over charged, considering all of the corrosion.....Can't think of anything other than the regulator, and even that seems doubtful since this one is basically brand new ....Can anyone else think of anything?

[Willy Mammoth]

You may have a bad diode in the altenator that is causing feedback to the light. This is a common problem. If you arn't having charging problems then don't worry about it. You will need to replace the altenator or the diode pack inside.

[YOguyDa]

The only problem ive had with the charging is the over charging...(corrosion all over terminals, and rusting out the side of my truck from all of the fumes). Ill look into it. Thanks.

[brainlessfool]

my 83's charge lite on all the time too. there's a "lamp driver" some where that's said to be the turble. 

[Willy Mammoth]

The diodes convert AC current into DC current that flows in one direction, but when a diode is bad it causes the current to back feed. There is a diode in the instrument cluster that will only allow the light to light up when the current flows in the wrong direction.  Get the alt checked with a meter that will check for this.

[YOguyDa]

What about the over-charging? Kragen wants $45 bucks for a voltage regulator...HAHAHA yeah right. Especially if they might not take it back.