Battery light in dash pod..

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Locked
User avatar
maxstu
Registered user
Posts: 5068
Joined: 07 Feb 2008, 01:05
80-90 Mem No: 3946
Location: Margate

Battery light in dash pod..

Post by maxstu »

.....is not working now! DG1900 1986 Transporter.

Would someone please put my pee brain to rest and confirm this should illuminate when ignition is turned to first stage? As a tester. Then goes out when engine fires up? Or if battery is not getting enough charge?

I had dash removed over weekend and am pretty certain I didn't damage anything. And all other dash illuminations or lights are working fine too.

Is it something to do with dash panel printed circuit or just a bulb? No bulb holder in sight though :shock:

Many thanks
MaxStu
1987 DG1.9 LPG Auto Autosleeper. Soon to be 2.1
"Blissfully happy in your presence".

User avatar
Titus A Duxass
Registered user
Posts: 5777
Joined: 24 Nov 2007, 08:22
80-90 Mem No: 4475
Location: Cologne

Re: Battery light in dash pod..

Post by Titus A Duxass »

The charging light is on when you switch on the ignition.
It goes off when enough of a charge comes from the alternator.

You've probably dislodged a wire.
VW T3 GTi Camper 2,0l

User avatar
VWCamperfan
Registered user
Posts: 993
Joined: 08 Jul 2007, 19:47
80-90 Mem No: 4000
Location: Sheerness, Kent.

Re: Battery light in dash pod..

Post by VWCamperfan »

Flick the ignition on and have a play around with the connection at the back of the dashboard. May just come back on!
Mark.

I'm Not A Complete Idiot... Some Bits Are Missing!

1.6 Modified CT engine.

User avatar
maxstu
Registered user
Posts: 5068
Joined: 07 Feb 2008, 01:05
80-90 Mem No: 3946
Location: Margate

Re: Battery light in dash pod..

Post by maxstu »

Hi Titus & Mark,

Thanks for the responses.....

I did have a wee fiddle round the back :oops: Hold on! That's not sounding appropriate whatsoever!!

I did check behind pod for loose connections and like, but found nothing untowards. Not even a bulb holder to undo and check either :? Will have another look later today.

Is it illuminated by a wire or by the dreaded printed circuit (pray please nooooooooooo :( ) tape? And what does this tape do exactly?

Mark, I still owe you mucho favours and beers. Where you been hiding recently? I thought you were heading to this years Bashtie? Still keen to crew your Snapdragon for you :wink: :D
MaxStu
1987 DG1.9 LPG Auto Autosleeper. Soon to be 2.1
"Blissfully happy in your presence".

User avatar
ermie571
Registered user
Posts: 4970
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 11:11
80-90 Mem No: 2129
Location: Minster-on-Sea, Kent: Member 2129 07784052288

Re: Battery light in dash pod..

Post by ermie571 »

Maxstu,

Mark is often located within Ermie's fuse box!!! I have been having wiring and earthing issues like nothing else just at the moment!

Em
x
2.1 DJ 1990 Caravelle (died and gone to heaven)
2.0 AGG (1997 ish) 1984 transporter LPG

User avatar
AngeloEvs
Registered user
Posts: 1345
Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 19:22
80-90 Mem No: 4709
Location: Upwell, Norfolk

Re: Battery light in dash pod..

Post by AngeloEvs »

The ignition alternator LED is fed by a common 12V that also feeds flasher LED, etc, etc via the membrane PCB and various resistors/diodes to it but the good news is that the latter rarely fail. The LED itself could fail but once again unlikely. That leaves the wire that goes from the other side of the LED via the PCB multiconnector to the Alternator D+ . If this wire becomes disconnected or there is a poor connection at either the PCB multiconnector or at the Alternator then the LED will fail to light..
1987 DG Karisma LPG with remodelled interior

User avatar
maxstu
Registered user
Posts: 5068
Joined: 07 Feb 2008, 01:05
80-90 Mem No: 3946
Location: Margate

Re: Battery light in dash pod..

Post by maxstu »

Hi AngeloEvs,
We met at Bashtie...good to meet you. :ok

The ignition alternator LED is fed by a common 12V that also feeds flasher LED, etc, etc via the membrane PCB and various resistors/diodes to it but the good news is that the latter rarely fail. The LED itself could fail but once again unlikely. That leaves the wire that goes from the other side of the LED via the PCB multiconnector to the Alternator D+ . If this wire becomes disconnected or there is a poor connection at either the PCB multiconnector or at the Alternator then the LED will fail to light..

I appreciate your advice, but is there any chance you could run it past me again in plain english :? I really hate auto electrics and getting my head round your explaination is blurring my eyesight, as I've read it ten times over :lol:

Am I looking behind dash pod or in engine bay? LED = light emitted diode? Flasher LED meaning indicator? Indicators work fine :| Please enlighten me. What's a PCB multiconnector and where do i find it?

Thanks again
MaxStu
1987 DG1.9 LPG Auto Autosleeper. Soon to be 2.1
"Blissfully happy in your presence".

User avatar
maxstu
Registered user
Posts: 5068
Joined: 07 Feb 2008, 01:05
80-90 Mem No: 3946
Location: Margate

Re: Battery light in dash pod..

Post by maxstu »

More electrical gremlins is it, Emma,

Mark deserves a medal don't he :lol:
MaxStu
1987 DG1.9 LPG Auto Autosleeper. Soon to be 2.1
"Blissfully happy in your presence".

User avatar
AngeloEvs
Registered user
Posts: 1345
Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 19:22
80-90 Mem No: 4709
Location: Upwell, Norfolk

Re: Battery light in dash pod..

Post by AngeloEvs »

The LED has two legs, one is supplied with 12V (this same 12V also supplies flasher led and this is ok so you have 12V). The other leg of the LED has to connect to the alternator for it to work. It does this using the nasty pcb ribbon cable to a multiconnector under the instrument housing. If, for some reason you have a duff connection at the multiconnector or a duff connection at the Alternator then....... no LED working. So, you need to check the multiconnector under the instrument cluster by giving it a wiggle or disconnecting it and then refitting it. But, it might be worth checking the wiring at the alternator since one of them (the blue one) is from the LED that ain't working and it wont if it aint connected to the alternator.......there are other possibilities but maybe best left for another time........ :lol:
1987 DG Karisma LPG with remodelled interior

User avatar
maxstu
Registered user
Posts: 5068
Joined: 07 Feb 2008, 01:05
80-90 Mem No: 3946
Location: Margate

Re: Battery light in dash pod..

Post by maxstu »

Hi again,

Yep! Getting a good mental picture of your explanation now. There's a white multiconnector below dash pod. I removed dash recently for new blower. Will start there for now

Many thanks mate :ok
MaxStu
1987 DG1.9 LPG Auto Autosleeper. Soon to be 2.1
"Blissfully happy in your presence".

Locked