85 GT 4 speed alternator not charging (Page 1/1)
jaydaug2008 DEC 31, 11:12 PM
First of all, this is a project I bought a month ago and bought it in rough shape..needed fuel pump, water pump, and now I have it all fixed and running now discovering the alternator isnt charging..I read about the battery bulb in the cluster having alot to possibly do with this,, And believe you me..there is only 2 bulbs working in the whole cluster and I have to wiggle the plug on the left side to make those 2 work..totally seems like a connection issue at that plug...all the bulbs appear to be good wiggling them and scratching and twisting the bulb housings around....I am really hoping it is the bulb or plu connection issue because I already broke the top bolt off the alternator bracket...If you were going to clean the plug and plastic circuit board connections how would you do that?..Have a great new year to by the way

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James 1986 Fiero SE V6 2.8
Central Florida

theogre JAN 01, 09:27 AM
Use a 12V Test Light to side plug on the alt. Not LED or higher watt bulb > 4w. (Dash bulbs are 194 using < .3a eating 3.78w)

Bridge wires w/ Test Bulb or maybe easier put 1 end to battery + w/ other end to Brown wire.
Should turn on the alt when engine runs, glow it self engine stopped.

Normally I say pull dash battery bulb during testing but Because dash is iffy. Carefully pull both connectors on back. 3rd plug to speedo bottom doesn't matter for this problem.

Big Plugs can fail or 1 to many bulbs &/or sockets are dead.
Sockets break metal & plastic in them.
Sockets can distort the dash so won't connect.
Big plug "pins" copper get unglued & causes several problems including short 12V to whatever pin near on back or on the plug.

see
https://web.archive.org/web...~fierocave/lamps.htm
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/138175.html
If gauges are "bad" too see https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/146784.html

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 01-01-2024).]

jaydaug2008 JAN 06, 06:26 PM
Thank you Ogre!!!! It turned out to be the instrument cluster bulb.. We have a happy charging system now and a happy bright beautiful dash at night! This car is capturing my heart the way it is coming together..Thankful for this group!!!!

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James Silver 1986 Fiero SE V6 2.8 Auto...Red 1985 GT 4 speed
Central Florida