Alternator charge light problem

ox_ford_guy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-15-2006, 02:17 PM

Help any electrical experts out there......

As with normal operation, the alternator charge light on my Backdraft Cobra dashboard goes on when I turn on the key but do not start the engine.
However, once I start the engine it stays on and does not go off until I turn the engine off.

The alternator appears to be providing just under 14.5 volts when running and the motor will continue to run when I turn off the battery switch. I think this indicates that the car is getting the proper charge and I have not had any dead battery issues yet. I just can't get that light to go off and it is quite annoying..
(The previous owner had the light dissconnected from the lens holder and hung under the dash probably because of this issue.)

All that the Backdraft manual says is to connect the small yellow wire from harness to the alternator for this light to monitor proper charging function.
(Not a very specific instruction)

As set up now, the yellow wire from the harness is connected to the "i" terminal on the "asi" connector block on the alternator. The large gauge red wire goes to the alternator feed lug and a smaller gauge red jumper wire goes from the alternator feed lug to the "a"terminal on the "asi" connector block on the alternator. The "s" terminal on the "asi" block has nothing connected to it

If I disconnect the yellow wire from the alternator "asi" connector block the charging light goes out but the alternator won't put out a charge as the engine runs and the Volt meter reads about 12 volts
(If I turn off the battery disconnect the car dies indicating that it was running on battery power only)

I have tried connecting the yellow wire to the other "asi" terminals but the charge light doesn't work at all when I do this...

Is somthing hooked up wrong, or is the alternatior bad, or ???????
Also, what do the "asi" markings mean?

No markings on it, but I believe the alternator is a Ford unit with internal regulator setup.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...Thanks..ox_ford_guy