TDS00PET

Had my 82 on a battery maintainer/charger most of the winter. When took it off, car starts, battery seems strong, however the dash battery red light stays on and the volt gauge is only on about 12. Could this have overcharged the battery or maybe the guage and light are bad. Both worked fine before. I had also put the trickle charger on last winter, no problems. Still starts and runs fine. Ideas?

BPHORSEGUY

How long have you run it and how many starts, could be your charging system?

TDS00PET

Thanks, thought about that but have only driven a couple of times for about 20 to 30 minutes.

...Roger...

On an 82 if I remember right a blown fuse can cause the battery light to come on. I'll look at a wiring diagram and see if I can tell you which fuse to check.

...Roger...

Check the GAGES fuse , its on the left side about half way up- 20amps

Easy Mike

Drive her down to your neighborhood generic auto parts place. Most of them check batteries and alternator output for free.

TDS00PET

Fuses are ok. Did check the battery and alternator yesterday. Battery shows about 12.3 and the alternator about 12.3 to .4. Guess the light goes on when the alternator is bad. Not sure if it was the orig. Replace it asap.

...Roger...

Sounds like the alternator is showing battery voltage , that doesn't confirm that the alt is bad. Remove the alt and have your local parts store check it before replacing ,you could replace it and find it still doesn't work.
The brown wire exciter circuit could be your problem.

TDS00PET

That was my plan to take it off and have it tested before buying a new one. Where is the brown wire exciter circuit located, does it have a fuse to it? Thanks

TDS00PET

Took off my alternator to have tested and it shows 70amp, looking in the specs 82 had 63 amp for all but Collector Edition (CE) CE had 70, I have a CE. Any problems with putting in an 85 amp altenator? Would this hurt anything? Many of the catalogs show 63, 70 or 85, even higher for 82.

BPHORSEGUY

Should be no problem w/ a slightly bigger alternator but am I reading your post wrong or did not your alternator test good at 70amps and it should put out about 13.3 or 13.7 volts. The calibration on your voltmeter should be questioned or a second one tried because you are only about 1/2 of a volt from good readings on your car and most tool box voltmeters I have seen are not w/ in 1/2 of a volt and I am a calibration engineer for a living.

TDS00PET

Alternator only test at home 12.3 or so, when I took it to the store it tested on the machine at 11.58. The 70 amp was what was on the alternator case, but come to find out on a rebuilt one the case could show 70amp but the alternator is rated at 85. I also had them test the new one I got and it tested at 15. After putting a new alternator on my volt meter gauge showed about 14 plus and the battery light went out.

BPHORSEGUY

I am glad to hear you got it sorted out, I hate electrical issues! The new one shows 70 amp on the case
because they re-wound someones old core, the guts are up rated though!