When I start the engine with the parking brake on I have the follow conditions CHARGING light on, BRAKE light on and voltage indicator showing about 10 volts at idle. As soon as I release the parking brake all the lights go out and voltage indicator jumps into the normal range. If a reset the parking brake, the brake light comes back on (expected) but charging light and indicator now stay normal. My question, is this normal for a 1985 FJ60? Just seems odd. My electrical system is in good shape with solid grounds and clean connectors.
Charging system question
- Thread starter Rgill
- Start date
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Not normal.
All those indicator lights ground together in a super dinky grounding bus thingy located in the wiring harness behind the gauge cluster.
The headlights ground through that abomination too, which eventually (after 20 years or so) cooks the bus, creating carbon on the sliding electrical contacts which creates resistance which creates a floating ground.
Whenever weird stuff happens when actuating something (lights go on that shouldn’t) that’s usually a sign that a ground for that device is poor and the electricity has found a path through a different device to get to ground.
Many FJ60s eventually run into floating ground issues. The culprit is located behind the gauge cluster.
All those indicator lights ground together in a super dinky grounding bus thingy located in the wiring harness behind the gauge cluster.
The headlights ground through that abomination too, which eventually (after 20 years or so) cooks the bus, creating carbon on the sliding electrical contacts which creates resistance which creates a floating ground.
Whenever weird stuff happens when actuating something (lights go on that shouldn’t) that’s usually a sign that a ground for that device is poor and the electricity has found a path through a different device to get to ground.
Many FJ60s eventually run into floating ground issues. The culprit is located behind the gauge cluster.
- Thread starter
- #3
Yikes!! Thank you that will be looked at asap! Fingers crossed it has not gotten to that level. I do aircraft wiring for a living so I am kinda of a electrical geek. Recently purchased this FJ so I don't know the history and this is my first Toyota ever. Was a diehard Jeep guy when Jeeps were Jeeps and not mall cruisers.
