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hi my 79 luv(4x4) gen light comes on all the time. it is dime sometimes and somtimes it is really bright. someone once said that it is a voltage regulator or something about that but i dont know were that is. is it bad if it is on? i know i put brand new headlights in my truck and like 1 month later the brights blew out, i dont know if this gen light would cause this or what. any help would be great thanks!

To make this simple get a manual.
I will assume(But not sure) the alternator is a IR(internal regualated type alternator). THat means its on the inside.
The early Luv will have a external regualtor. close to fender next the alternator

You could take it to autopart store and they can test this for you to say if its good or bad.

Those lights.
Make sure you dont put some High power lights in there that should run off a relay instead of using the stock wiring. Could melt wires but should blow the fuse first.

If say 80/100watt light on place of the stock that could be the proplem so put the stock back in. Maybe look up a 4x4 site that can show this or look up a Hella sitehttp://www.rallylights.com/hella/headlamps.htm

Go to Rockaut

My 77 had a glowing gen light (pretty faint really) and the thing that eventually cured it was hooking back up the cab to engine ground straps. I think there is one from the firewall to the back side of the head or block, and one from the trans to the floorboard.

If it comes on solid something is wrong with the alt or the regulator. LUVs were externally regulated at least up until 81, and I think my wife's 83 Isuzu PUP was ER too. My general rule is that if you replace one, replace the other with it. I've had a bad alt go through a couple regs before I caught on and replaced both.

Blowing lights is a sign of overcharging. That would likely be the regulator not switching off, but its hard to tell for sure. My 79 came to me with one tail light, and one side marker light working. It had blown all the rest of them out. Replaced the alt and reg (and a little wiring it had cooked as well) and it has been running the same headlights ever since.

The reg is a metal box on the driver's side fender just ahead of the fuseblock. Sorta looks like a big relay or something. They usually can't be fixed and just have to be replaced.

Most parts stores or battery shops will do a free diagnostic on the charging system. This would tell you if you have a weak battery, over or under charging. Unless the problem is intermittant and they can't make it happen while testing, they should be able to shed some light on what is going on.

so the regulator is were on a 79 luv? i just put a new alternator in it but didnt replace the regulator because i dont even know were or what it is! so it might be on the fender?

The regulator sits on the driver's side inner fender, almost tucked under the lip. It is a box about 3"x2"x3" (maybe a bit bigger) and has a plug with 6 wires going to it. It also has a wire going to a small capacitor thing that usually comes with it. Follow the wire bundle up from the alternator to where it goes into the larger bundle under the lip of the inner fender and you'll find the regulator within a couple inches of that. They are either plain metal colored or black. It is not that hard to find.

Ive never had a problem with my gen light I guess that I am just lucky. But while we are on the subject i would like to mention that my oil light wont go off what should I do???

My Gen light is glowing faint also. It seems to get brighter as I switch the fan higher. Also the radio light will flicker when turned up, not cranked, but probably half way or a little better. The radio is not connected to any amps or anything, just simple old speakers that were in the truck. Everything seems to be ok, truck runs great, just am wondering if there is some trouble brewing with that faint glow of the light ?

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