Dash Lights On, Help!

[BensDR30]

SERIOUSLY! I'm sure someone here can help. half of you seem to be extremely knowledgable. PLEASE HELP!

The symptoms you describe indicate that the bulb-check-relay is energising, this only happens when the alternator isn't charging (or isn't appearing to be charging).

Now there could be several things causing this fault, the alternator, the wiring or the relay itself.

Realistally te alternator needs to be tested for correct voltage output when on the car & possibly also bench-tested by your local sparky.

The bulb-check circuit has the benefit of being a really big, confusing voltage warning system, so if you miss the little picture of the battery glowing, the rest of the dash lights are still staring you in the face!

[george.bryant]

All is sorted!

Ok I got another alternator to put in and I installed it. Started the vehicle and the lights were still on...

So I went back and looked at the wiring and I saw that the wire going from the alternator to the starter motor was half melted and had soldered itself together to the crimps and the wire was corroded green. So I replaced that and everything is fine now.

So maybe all along the problem was just that wire...

[hrd-hr30]

good to hear you found the problem. I did mention to check the charge wire on the back of the alt. Its not uncommon for them to come loose, alot less common for them to burn out!

yep sounds like a charging problem. could be as simple as the fan belt loose/slipping, or wire fallen off the back of the alternator. Or it could be the alternator itself, but it pays to chack the basics first...