Battery light

[jordanhdi]

The other day my airbag circuit went faulty, so until it is sorted I have removed the bulb because the flashing warning light becomes very distracting whilst night driving. So while the dials were out I remembered my battery light was on because of a poor earth so I removed that bulb aswell. Now with the bulb removed would it stop the alternator from charging the battery because there is an incomplete circuit?

[Frosty]

No that shouldn't affect it. Be best to sort the issue with the bad earth. though. But how do you know its a bad earth that is the issue though? Could just be early signs of the alternator dying.

[daddyfixit]

yes it will stop it charging as bulb is part of the charging circuit. put voltmeter on battery to check voltage, then refit the bulb and measure again....you will see alternator voltage at battery terminals once bulbs back in.

[cully]

yes it will stop it charging, the battery lamp circuit feeds the exciter circuit in the alternator

[jordanhdi]

I put a post on here while ago explaining the battery light being dim and I was told it could be a poor battery earth

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It wasn't until I removed the bulb and refitted the dials I remembered being told at depending collage on how the bulb is wired, if I'm right in saying if it's in parallel it would just by pass around the missing bulb and if in series I needs the bulb to complete the circuit. Driving today I had a couple of coughs come from the engine but it hasn't died on me yet. It must be getting some charge but not enough.

[Frosty]

Ah i got that a bit work. On my old 306 i had the battery light that would come on dim sometimes and that was an early sign of the alternator dying.