Club 80-90 Forums

Hello...just a quick question. Can anyone tell me what the flashing red light is when you put the key in the ignition. The previous owner told me to wait till it goes out before firing up the van. Today the light stayed on for about 10 mins after I had started the engine, it finally went off. Is it something to do with the alternator?
I've bought a brand new battery and a week later I'm having trouble starting the bus. It just doesn't want to fire up...eventually with the help of my leisure battery connected to the main battery I get the engine running. So the battery is not charging itself up. I'm going to buy a volt meter thingy tomorrow and test the battery.

I've had a look at my alternator and there is a thin wire coming from the rear of the alternator going to the battery shelf area...it was once connected to a split charge system thingy but I disconnected it because it looked really dodgy. Now it's not connected to anything. Is that wire important?

I've looked through some answers on here and all I can see are 'glow plug' ...what the 'f' is a glow plug. Aren't glow plugs used for disels? My dashboard also has a water level /temp guage even though my bus is Aircooled? Should I just ignor the red light?

What I want to do is take some pictures of my engine and then you (helpful lot) can tell me what type parts I have. I wouldn't have the faintest idea what type of coil I've got or need to get...or what type of distributor etc. I'll take some pictures of the wire that leads to nowhere.

Thanks,
Avant-garde.

I Believe it's to do with the oil pressure building up, when the light goes out pressure is ok.

I could be wrong i'm sure somebody will be along shortly if wrong.

spet25 wrote:I Believe it's to do with the oil pressure building up, when the light goes out pressure is ok.

I could be wrong i'm sure somebody will be along shortly if wrong.

Yes and the other red light should go out when alternator kicks in and shows its charging....

I always turn and start up in one go and not necessarily wait for lights to go out

Andy

sounds like you have an Aircooled lump in a watercooled bus OR a watercooled dash connected to an Aircooled engine.

Does your bus have 2 grills on the front? The big one round the headlights and one near the bumper....

Thanks for that...only one grill so yes it's a watercooled dash connected to an Aircooled engine.
I had a sneaking suspicion that the blinking light was something to do with the alternator.

Cheers again.