Bigger Alternator? check charging system light!?

[Lux]

Well at 60,000 miles it looks like my regulator is acting up (THANKS WINTER!) and i've got two questions.

When does the check charging system light come on?

It was on all last night and this morning, i get to work to check it, and it goes off!

So i close the hood and it goes back on!

Thats right, open the hood and it goes back off!

So i put our tester on it and watch the voltage creep down to under 12 volts with the ac, headlights, etc on, and no light! Kinda wierd.

So whens this light suppose to come on and is there a higher amperage alternator (another car perhaps) that i can bolt on?

I have a 97 Mark which looks like its the same as the cobra @ 130 amps (maybe an upgrade for gen 1 guys?)

Thanks everyone!

 

[Rich88LSC]

I'm kinda curious as to when it goes on too. I replaced the alternator not to long ago but I think I need a new belt tensioner. The light flickers at high rpm.

 

[Lux]

on mark8.org i think someone said 9 volts on the low and 16 on the high

 

[mafioso]

Use a 3G alternator its rated at 130A and the only mod that needs to be done is removing the pigtail from the clip so it can reach since its further to the passenger side.

You can tell the 3G from the mitsubishi because the bottom mount holes are sloted.

I've had terrible luck with mitsu alts. I fried 6 in 2 months before I got the HO one.

 

[Lux]

the stock alt on my 97 has the plug on the passenger side, is 3g and rated @ 130 with slotted bottom holes i might just get one outta the boneyard im gettin ready to park it for winter

93-95's had a 110 iirc

 

[Tiltedhalo]

I had the same problem with my 99 town cars alternator. The idiot light senses voltage low point of 11.5 high of 14.6VDC the light was coming on with no electrical draw when the lights or a load was applied the light went out drove it for two years like that it was just the voltage regulator over charging with no load.

 

[kustomizingkid]

I would look into upgrading the battery cables... or at least the ends, cause they suck big time!