I've been struggling with the dash warning lights on my 83 244 (diesel).

The altenator seems to be charging fine, had it checked in the car. The battery light, the park brake light, the brake failure light, and the yellow "bulb"? light never go out. I have run a ground wire from the altenator to the block, and to the chasis, but it doesn't help. I unhooked the red wire from the loom at the fire wall and checked for power. Power on with key on. Pulled the red wire from the altenator. Power on with key on. (continuity test proved it the same wire). With the wire interupted, either from the junction block at the fire wall, or removed from the altenator itself, the warning lights go out. Although I can't prove it with the simple tools I have, I believe the altenator is NOT charging when this is unhooked. When the same wire is jumnped directly from the battery, it puts a load against the engine, enough so to bog it some, and there is substantial resistance (bright blue spark--wire starts to heat and melt the insulation). I have tried the archives but haven't come up with anything that I haven't tried already. So, I am at a loss. Any ideas are certainly welcome.

Thanks!

Leonard