[novaderrik]

you are running efi with an external voltage regulator?
i think the fuel system, ecm, and injectors alone will probably use more than what the alternator can put out. add in an electric fan (if you have one), headlights, a radio, and air conditioning, and you are seriously under powered..

 

[SBElsie]

I know I haven't done a couple of the given suggestions but I won't be able to work on the car until tomorrow, here are a few more questions.

I assume the "idiot light" problem I am having is related to the ignition not killing the motor when it is turned to off, right?

The alternator is obviously keeping the car alive when I turn the key off, could it power the car through the "idiot light" wires?

I still don't understand how any of these problems are happening from installing a new battery and positive terminal lead. Could any of this becaused by a problem at the starter solenoid?

 

[1Fast7D]

I assume the "idiot light" problem I am having is related to the ignition not killing the motor when it is turned to off, right?

Yes

The alternator is obviously keeping the car alive when I turn the key off, could it power the car through the "idiot light" wires?

Generally, with a 100% factory original car, no, but yours sounds far from original. With a ignition box such as a MSD6al, very little voltage is need to keep the box turned on. They recomend that a diode be installed to prevent that from happening, which is common.

I still don't understand how any of these problems are happening from installing a new battery and positive terminal lead. Could any of this becaused by a problem at the starter solenoid?

Yes, it could, depending what you have and how it is wired. With original type wiring, if the battery cable was touching "R" terminal (yellow wire) power would backfeed to the ignition, which would include the GEN lamp.

I started my car to see if it would still run and to see if the electronics were ok (EFI) and it ran fine. HOWEVER, it would not shut off when I turned the key off! Pulling the negative lead off the battery didn't do anything so I had to pull the coil wire to kill it.

Was the car running off the alternator?

Yes. FYI, pulling the battery cable with the engine running can blow the diodes in the alternator. This can cause a draw on the battery when the cars not running. It was probably not a concern at the time, but something to keep in mind if any new problems develop, like battery going dead just sitting.

 

[DanD]

Look at the starter solenoid area. You mentioned in your first post that the volt gauge isn't working either, if that's an aftermarket gauge that someone has wired in at the starter area you may have moved the battery cable enough to make the wires touch together. The small wire on the passenger side of the solenoid goes to the coil. If that one touches the battery cable it will stay running.

Dan

 

[SBElsie]

Could something be loose on the inside of my starter solenoid that is causing this?

 

[SBElsie]

I've read that this problem can happen when installing a new coil, which I did. Would installing a diode help me?

I was confused on the other posts on where to install the diode, would I install it on the brown wire?

 

[1Fast7D]

I've read that this problem can happen when installing a new coil, which I did. Would installing a diode help me?

Yes, it will prevent the engine from running with key off, but it will not correct you GEN light being on with key off and engine not running problem.

I was confused on the other posts on where to install the diode, would I install it on the brown wire?

Yes

 

[SBElsie]

I figured out the problem. It was the starter solenoid. I unhooked my starter and the GEN light went out. I replaced my solenoid for $10 and I'm good to go. EXCEPT. For some reason now I'm not getting any spark out of my mallory coil. Could I have ruined something when I pulled the wire on it to kill the motor when the jey wouldn't turn off the motor? Maybe I just blew a relay in my fuel injection harness. Any thoughts on that? Thanks for everyones help before, it was great.

 

[1Fast7D]

How many wires are connected to starter solenoid? If the yellow wire was touching the BAT cable the ignition system would have had power with key off, and that will kill a coil.

 

[SBElsie]

I don't have a yellow wire near my solenoid. I have the main power wire, a pink and a purple wire. Nothing is or was touching anything it shouldn't have been. The coil worked right up to the point of me pulling the wire off of it to kill the car when the key wouldn't. How could a coil be ruined just by pulling the wire off of it? Maybe I just blew the relay in my efi harness. Let me know if anyone has any ideas. Thanks!

 

[1970green_machine]

I just started having this same problem with my 1970 Malibu. The other night I took it out for a ride and when I turned it off the GEN light stayed on and my radio kept playing. I wired my own stereo in this car, so I disconnected it from the fuse panel to see if I had some wires crossed up. This didn't fix the problem, so I went to the Alternator and unplugged the little plastic wire harness, not the actual power wire, and the light turned off and stayed off. I know the first reply on here said that if you disconnect that plug from the alternator and the light goes off the alternator is bad, but I am just curious how this works. I have broken an alternator belt before, and that made the GEN light come whiile the car was running, but when it is running right now the light does not illuminate....I guess my question is why would it light up after the car is turned off, and does anyone have any idea why my radio might have stayed on? Like I mentioned before, the radio is wired directly into the fuse box and it is connected to the batt and acc outlets for constant and remote power. I also brought my alternator to a parts store and it tested fine, so I don't know wehere to go from here. Any input is much apprecited. Thanks

 

[1Fast7D]

I just started having this same problem with my 1970 Malibu.

It would be better to start a new thread.

If you are using a original externally regulated charging system, it could be the regulator, or a wiring problem.

 

[vferrizz]

Check for a missing or bad ground connection. I had a similar issue with my 67 Firebird. My interior lights and GEN light would stay on all the time. I found that one of my interior light sockets was not grounded. I fixed the ground and the problem went away. Bad grounds cause odd problems.

Vince

 

[1970green_machine]

Thanks for the advice on checking whe grounding points....I checked the ground for the battery yesterday, but I didn't think to check the one for my radio since it is the component that is acting up. Maybe it is like your car where the problem was with the ground for the light, only in my car it is the ground for my stereo. I will have to check it out and post my results.

Oh, and by the way, I thought about starting a new thread for my problem, but on some other forums I have been on they get irritated when people start forums and ask questions that have already been asked. I figured since my problem was much like this one, I would just post it here and see what I could get for info. Sorry if it is annoying to add to an already extensive thread.

-Dave

 

[1970green_machine]

I picked up a new voltage regualtor and it solved the problem of the GEN light staying lit after the car was turned off. Now I have a new problem that I will talk about in a new thread. Thanks again for everyone's input, this site is a great resource.

-Dave

 

[hrd]

well, that was a most unsatisfying conclusion, since we're here you could have continued, or at least, link us to the new thread.:wacko:

 

[Dean]

well, that was a most unsatisfying conclusion, since we're here you could have continued, or at least, link us to the new thread.:wacko:

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188244