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74 Midget alternator light question

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bcliff

bcliff

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I'm an MGB guy and don't have a lot of Midget experience. On a 74 Midget, should there be a red alternator light? If so, where in the dash is it? I know that on a 69 B that circuit energizes the alternator so that it will charge. On the midget in question there isn't a light in the dash (it has had some "creative" rewiring. The car goes a ways then the battery is dead. I'm thinking some left out an important detail.
PM me, I don't get to this forum too often.
Thanks,
Bruce
 
You're probably thinking of the idea that current leakage through the ignition lamp keeps the field coils in a generator slightly magnetized, so it can start up. Alternators, however, don't work this way, and even a generator will usually start up fine when the ignition bulb is burned out. I don't think this is the problem. I'd take a good, hard look at that "creative" wiring. Or, of course, it's possible that the alternator has simply gone belly up.
 
The car starts and runs fine, just does not charge. I first encountered this on one of my MGBs (a 70 GT) over 20 years ago. I didn't think anything of it when the red light didn't light up when I turned the key on. After a couple of days of daytime driving, it wouldn't start. I called the local english car garage, and was told to check the bulb. It was burned out. I replaced the bulb, got the car started and the battery charged right up. Somewhere on this Midget someone left out the wire that excites the alternator.
Bruce
 
Not sure really with a 74 but is the light not in the bottom of the speedo?
 
jlaird said:
Not sure really with a 74 but is the light not in the bottom of the speedo?
Click to expand...

Bruce,on my '72, it's in the tach. I can't remember if it's the same in the '74. I'll try and take a look tonight.
Jeff
 
It's a pillow dash. There are 2 lights inboard of the rocker switch for the headlamps, in tandem, red & blue. The red one is the uppermost right below the choke.
 
Will have a look in the next couple of days. Stay tuned.
Bruce
 
This particular has had it's dash recovered. I can feel where the red light is supposed to be, under the dash covering, but the light has been omitted. Time for more research.
Bruce
 
If you can feel the indent through the fabric you could probably punch through. The frame of the dash is metal, and the hole should still be there. The question is did someone perform some creative wiring and eliminate that circuit and the light socket?
 
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