The light will glow if there is a potential difference between the white
side of the warning light, which comes from the ignition switch, and the
brown/yellow side which comes from the alternator indicator terminal. In a
good system it shouldn't glow.
It usually indicates the alternator is failing, possibly one or more of the
diodes, but it will also happen if you have bad connections between the
alternator output terminal, via the solenoid connection and ignition switch
to the white circuit. In both these cases it will glow brighter with
increasing load.
Measure the voltage between the output (brown) and the indicator
(brown/yellow) terminals on the alternator - wiring connected, engine
running, electrical loads switched on, such that you have the glow. If
there is a potential difference between those two (other than perhaps a
couple of tenths of a volt), then the alternator itself is the culprit. If
either of them are over 14.7v then again the alternator is the culprit. If
they are much the same but there is a potential difference between the
output terminal and the ignition switch white such that the white is lower
than the output terminal, then it is a bad connection between the two.
The heater fan and the overdrive come off the white circuit so the problem
could either be in the brown or the ignition switch. If the headlamps make
no difference it will be the ignition switch circuit, if the headlamps make
a difference then it will be in the brown circuit. Exactly where it could
be in either case depends on the year as wiring varies.
PaulH.
----- Original Message -----
>I noticed tonight that the red battery light has just a hint of red as I
>was
> driving home.
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