'78 80 (Fox): battery light stays on

Richard J Lebens rick-l at rocketmail.com
Mon Aug 13 09:28:52 EDT 2001


Doesn't it mean you have a shorted rectifier diode in the alternator
when the alt light comes on with the key off??


--- urq <urq at pacbell.net> wrote:
> > Any (former) Fox/type 82 80 owners care to comment?
> ...
> > A couple of strange things though- when you connect the battery,
> the
> > battery light on the dash comes on and stays on until you turn the
> key in
> > the ignition to start it. It charges fine, so does anyone know what
> could
> > cause this?
> 
> ... sounds to me that the ignition switch is bad ... or there was
> some
> creative rewiring done.  The light should only come on when the car
> is
> turned on.  IME, the ignition switch module is a routine service item
> ...
> fortunately the switch module is an easy job to do on that car ...
> 
> > Also, the turn signals are dead (but hazard warning lights work
> fine) and
> > the heater blower doesn't. I've examined and cleaned the old-style
> ceramic
> > fuses and the fusebox, no dice. Anyone able to help?
> 
> ... that is an odd one indeed, usually it is the other way around! 
> Even on
> the V8 I have to actuate the turn signals to get the 4-ways to work! 
> My
> suggestion is to look at the wiring that supplies power to the column
> switch
> ... it may be this or the switch itself that is faulty.  In very
> un-Audilike
> fashion, my Fox still has the original column switch module ...
> 
> > It doesn't help that the car didn't come with an owner's manual and
> the
> > oldest workshop manual I have access to deals with the next
> generation 80
> > which came out in 1979. I'll be scouring the swapmeet later this
> month,
> but
> > I'm pretty sure it will be hard to find a manual.
> 
> ... I've actually got several versions of the US version of the
> service
> manual sitting in the garage here ... my owner's manual is pretty
> deteriorated though.
> 
> > The final comment might make the car a parts car only (which is
> what it
> was
> > intended to be, but it seems a shame to tear into a rust-free rare
> car
> with
> > such a low mileage)- the autobox works great but it howls like mad.
> Sounds
> > like it's low on oil, but there might be another explanation.
> >
> ... sorry, can't be of any assistance there ... good luck!
> 
> HTH!
> Steve Buchholz
> San Jose, CA (USA)
> 


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