Generator light on

Hi all,

The generator light has been coming on and off, sometimes it will come on and after awhile it will switch off.

It's only been happening in the last 2 days.

No problem starting the car, all the lights including the stereo work. The car is running fine...

Does it mean my battery is dying or do I just have to do a top up? What else could be wrong?

Looked up the Muir's book and it doesn't fit any of the conditions re: generator light comes on!

Thanks,
Ron

maybe needs new brushes

I say you got some problem with the generator. Just had this experience. Get an Auto sparkie to check the cjarge coming out of it. Does certainly sould like brushes. If you leave it the problem will get worse and more expensive

and i think brushes are like $6? 🙂

As the generator brushes wear they get shorter and don't touch the bit they have to touch - which means they are not charging the battery... if everything seems OK it may just be your regulator playing up.... May need a new one...
You can test the charge rate at the generator when the red light is on.. 1968> 12 volt generators charge all the time...
so it should show around 14v .. if its under 13 volts its probably not charging... rev the engine up and check..

Lee

I had this problem last week, turned off the motor then just pushed the brushes in a bit more and its been fine ever since. Currently saving up so I can get an alternator.

Hi all,

Thanks for the tips...
It's a stupid question, but I just have to ask it as I really don't know....

WHERE and WHAT are the brushes? Are they connected to the battery? :alien

Thanks!
Ron

the brushes are inside the generator... they transfer electricity from the generator commutator to the cable attached to the outside of the generator.
not a big job to change the brushes.
hth

if u look in the 2 holes in the side of the genny u will see a brush in each one....they sit in little slots with springs holding them agaisnt the communicator (thing that spins). if they dont contact the communicator properly your battery wont charge. get a mate to use the throttle and hook up a multi meter to the genny ....if it reads about 14 or so volts then it is charging.... if it reads about 12 or so then it probobly isnt try hooking up the multi meter to the wires off the genny and then using 2 fingers push the brushes down onto the communicator (WATCH OUT FOR THE FAN BELT) u may get a small shock or your fingers may get hot but just check if the charge goes up.......if it does then it is just the brushes u need to replace.

OK.. Its good to know exactly what You understand..
The generator is the round object sitting up on top of the engine that the fan belt goes to... I think it IS a bit dangerous to push the brushes down with Your fingers while the engine is going.. Maybe a long insulated screwdriver or piece of wood - stick - paddle pop stick... and watch out for the fan belt... First try pushing down on the brushes with the engine NOT going first... then start the engine to see if the red light goes off...

Here is a diagram of the generator and the brushes are in the slot on the left hand side... or in two holes depending on the generator.. Generator = Orange.

Lee

i pushed the brushes in on mine when my genny wasnt charging with the engine running.....fingers got hot pretty fast but it worked

Excellent! Thanks guys!
Will try that out when I get home!!

Lee: Thanks for the diagram too!😀

Ron

Excellent! Thanks guys!
Will try that out when I get home!!

Lee: Thanks for the diagram too!😀

Ron

Hi all,

Here is pic of the generator.

I couldn't find any access hole on the side!
What can I do now?!

Ron🙁

Just read the manual, it seems like there's a cover plate that I need to remove before I can see the brushes?

Hi all,

THere's a bus strike this morning so I had a bit of time checking the generator out...

It looks really different to what the manual or everyone has described!

Couldn't find any "holes" on the side of the thing and I'm not game enough to take it apart.....

Any other ideas?!

Thanks!
Ron

Hi all,

THere's a bus strike this morning so I had a bit of time checking the generator out...

It looks really different to what the manual or everyone has described!

Couldn't find any "holes" on the side of the thing and I'm not game enough to take it apart.....

Any other ideas?!

Thanks!
Ron

could it be an alternator