GQ Dash cluster battery & hand brake lights

[JeSTeROCK]

Gday guys

These two lights have been bugging me for a while and have been unable to find out why they are slightly lit all the time, especially at night time with the lights on.

When i put the hand brake on it comes on properly.

Just wondering if anyone has had the same problem and how they fixed it. Got a feeling its an earth problem somewhere but don't know where to start looking.

Cheers

[GQ TROL]

Is a sign of alternator problems me thinks. Battery not getting enough of a charge.....made worse at night-time by using your lights.

[mabsydney]

the hand brake light also doubles as an indicator for power brakes, mine was coming on intermitently and it turned out to be due to a small brake fluid leak from the rear brake line. Check your brake fluid to check the reservoir is topped up and there are no leaks.

[JeSTeROCK]

Seems to be charging alright, and the brake fluid level is ok

Thanks for the info, ill try changing the alternator. Not sure about the brakes though

[muddymav]

my shorty does that.when i go through water the lights will come on.one day the the water light and the hand brake stay on realy dim and never went out. hope that helps at all,id check plugs at the bottoom of the car.maybe corrosion, FUN FUN

[dirtyGQ]

had the same problem in my patrol it was the alternator

[JeSTeROCK]

That sounds just like my shorty! I feel like swearing hehe

I'll start tracing wires i think, can't wait

i suppose its better than fixing rusty slide windows

[Woop]

Problem is usually diodes in the Alternator. On a diesel patrol, the ALT,FILTER and BRAKE lamps are all interconnected by diodes to make all the lamps light up if Alternator stops charging or belt breaks. If Alternator charge is low, normally charge warning lamp glows dimly and these other lamps glow dimly as well. If its the original Hitachi Alternator, its normally diodes--replacing them is by complete replacement of the diode pack as removing them is difficult without destroying the diode itself. This is because the diodes are moulded into the heatsink--later versions have conventional push in diodes..

Nick

[JeSTeROCK]

sweet thanks, would rather keep my alternator even though its an 88 original.

Can you upgrade these by changing the stator and rotor for more output ?

[Woop]

Can be rewound for greater output--its possible to drill out the original diodes and replace with standard types

Nick

[JeSTeROCK]

New bosch alternator did the trick. 60amp instead of 50. Bolts up perfectly, just didn't use the spacer washer on the rear swivel bolt. Also had to make up a small adaptor cable male to female spade for the warning lamp, and didn't plug anything into the second power conector (larger wire used for extra power to the hitachi)

Had to swap the pulley's over.

All the warning lights are now fixed.