Don't know if this is something I should be worried about or not, but while I was driving around tonight, I noticed that the "AMP" light in the instrument cluster of my '80 245 DL would light up dimly when the turn signals would flash. It glows with the turn signals, so when the turn signal indicator is lit, so is the AMP light a bit.

I looked a bit closer, and I can notice that the AMP light is actually staying on, albeit very very very dimly, even when the turn signals aren't flashing. However, the turn signals just made it light up a bit more.

Should I be worried about this, or is this no big deal? If this is a problem, does anyone have any idea what could be causing it?

I was thinking it might be bad grounds, but I wouldn't know where to start with that problem again. I also tried spinning the fuses hoping that might clean up a corroded connection, but that didn't change anything either.

I did have the headlights and the heater fan on during the drive, and I know those can put a good load on the Alternator, but I would think the car could handle it no problem... It's not like I have one of those insanely over-the-top car stereos in the car...

Thanks as always.
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If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as "Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!"

I chased the same problem for a year on my 81 242. Just now got it fixed.

Check the voltage across the battery at idle unloaded. It should be about 14 volts. Mine was 12.5. Check for voltage drop along both battery cables and the cable to the alternator. From the fat red cable at the alternator to ground should be close to the same as across the battery. Check the ground wire from the alternator to the block. There are guys on this board who know all about this stuff. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. I just know what happened to me.

On my car, I checked all this stuff, then took the alternator in for a check. The guy put new brushes and bearings in it and said the diodes and everything else was fine, and that if I still had the problem to replace the regulator. I still had problems, so I replaced the external regulator with a $50 Bosch. No help at all. So I took the alternator off again and had it checked, this time by two different shops. Both said it was fine. After driving about six more months, with the alt light getting brighter and brighter, I took off the alternator a third time and took it for another check. The shop said it was fine. Finally I called my friend who has an ace mechanic for a son. His son told me, "You're taking it to the wrong shops. Take it to 'Warehouse Rebuilders' over on Gladiola. He'll fix it and your problem will be gone." That's what I did, and that's exactly what happened. He saw a problem with the rectifier that, the other guys just didn't have the experience or equipment to see. Problem gone.

I hope your problem is a lot simpler and quicker to solve. They usually are. Mine was a weird case, but worth bearing in mind if you have trouble finding a solution.




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Thanks everyone for all the information and advice, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, stock, B21F (non-Turbo), M46; 86 244, B230, 140k , auto.

Post of Big Harry and Trev are good...if its the brushes, you can usually get a bit of time by flipping them.....more brush against the armature.

Take it yoou found a clutch cable.

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84, 242GLTi, 167K, 4+OD, in rehab; 89, 245 DL, 263K, M 47, daily driver; 93, 245, auto, 167K ; and other toys.

A couple of weeks ago, while I was endangering the populace of the eastern US by towing another brick with my 245, I noticed that the AMP light was on brightly about Nashville. I pulled into a station there and checked the voltage across the battery terminals before shutting down the engine. It should have been 13.8 to 14.2 volts if the alternator was working correctly. I measured 7 volts and found that the main wire to the battery on the back of the alternator was broken. The brick that I brought home also showed evidence of vibration fatigue on this same wire. If the wire has several strands broken either on the alternator or at the battery, replace the terminal ends. If it is intact, pull the regulator and check the brushes.

Will
www.willdallas.org

May be regulator brushes reaching end of life (on the short side).
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

agree, pull the voltage regulator / brush holder assy. & check them out.
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mike, 1988 Volvo 240DL 114k , , previous 79 & 81 Volvo 244s

I would definately check the alternator based on past experiences!

Cheers