Dash lights won't go out

[Prado]

Hi all,

On the weekend my HDJ81 started acting funny whereby the dash lights (turbo/overboost, AT Oil Temp, Tbelt, charging light) continue to be lit after starting. I searched here and found that flickering dash lights tend to indicate a failing alternator or an issue with grounds but mine aren't flickering. When I start the truck and return the key to the 'run' position the lights turn off momentarily (about 1 sec) and then turn back on with no flickering. Does this still sound symptomatic of a failing charging system? The other bit of info that may be relevant is I've been having more trouble getting my key into the ignition...it's kind of "sticky" when I push it in. Is it possible there is a contact issue within the ignition barrel causing the lights to go out and then come back on? Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Traveller]

Hi all,

On the weekend my HDJ81 started acting funny whereby the dash lights (turbo/overboost, AT Oil Temp, Tbelt, charging light) continue to be lit after starting. I searched here and found that flickering dash lights tend to indicate a failing alternator or an issue with grounds but mine aren't flickering. When I start the truck and return the key to the 'run' position the lights turn off momentarily (about 1 sec) and then turn back on with no flickering. Does this still sound symptomatic of a failing charging system? The other bit of info that may be relevant is I've been having more trouble getting my key into the ignition...it's kind of "sticky" when I push it in. Is it possible there is a contact issue within the ignition barrel causing the lights to go out and then come back on? Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
Mike

Hi mike, normaly these problems can be solved by cleaning the conector of your dynamo..its a common problem with the 80 series... Seen a lot of them trough the years...

Regars
Mike

 

[Prado]

Hi mike, normaly these problems can be solved by cleaning the conector of your dynamo..its a common problem with the 80 series... Seen a lot of them trough the years...

Regars
Mike

Thanks for the response Mike! Given that it may be the plug on the back of the alternator is there a trick to getting it off? I tried last night but I can't get my fat fingers down there with enough room to actually get the plug off! It looks like I might have enough room if I removed all the intake plumbing from the aircleaner down to the turbo but I'd rather not pull all that off if there is another way/trick that I'm not aware of!

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Squash]

Facing engine from drivers side follow wires to the plug, with left hand squeeze the little tab on engine side... this tab is on the side, with tab pushed in you should be able to wiggle the plug out.

Normally a good cleaning will suffice. If this does not last try to carefully tighten the inner connectors with a small flat screw driver, just bend them enough to make firm contact.

 

[Traveller]

Facing engine from drivers side follow wires to the plug, with left hand squeeze the little tab on engine side... this tab is on the side, with tab pushed in you should be able to wiggle the plug out.

Normally a good cleaning will suffice. If this does not last try to carefully tighten the inner connectors with a small flat screw driver, just bend them enough to make firm contact.

Thank's for the answer squash, this should solve the problem....
Mike

 

[Prado]

Facing engine from drivers side follow wires to the plug, with left hand squeeze the little tab on engine side... this tab is on the side, with tab pushed in you should be able to wiggle the plug out.

Normally a good cleaning will suffice. If this does not last try to carefully tighten the inner connectors with a small flat screw driver, just bend them enough to make firm contact.

Thanks for that Squash! I must have real fat hands as I was able to find the plug and in fact I can see it when I look down into the engine compartment but with the AC directly above it and the intake tubing to the left and slightly behind it I wasn't able to get a good enough hold on the plug to get it out of the back of the alternator . I guess I'll have another go at it tonight...thanks for the help, I appreciate it.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Squash]

Forgot to mention that standing on something like a 5 gallon pail helps at times, keeps the arms from bending to much.

 

[Traveller]

Forgot to mention that standing on something like a 5 gallon pail helps at times, keeps the arms from bending to much.

Over here we use a crate of Heineken....

 

[Prado]

Update on issue

First of all, thank you for the suggestions thus far!

I spent a bunch of time this weekend trying to track this issue down. I accessed the plug on the back of the alternator, cleaned the contacts and applied dielectric grease, did the same on the negative cable connection on the alternator as well as cleaning and dielectric grease on all the grounds that I could find in the engine compartment! The truck is still showing the symptom whereby all the various warning lights in the dash light up momentarily after returning the key to the 'run' position after cranking and starting. The one thing I did notice this time is that sometimes the Tach needle would twitch ever so slightly when I turned on either turn signal or when I shifted from P to D .

I checked the voltage on the batteries while running at idle and my multimeter shows 15.8-15.9V which I THINK indicates that they are being charged appropriately by the alternator.

At this point I'm not sure what to check next...perhaps get the alternator load tested? Any other things that could lead to the dash light symptom? . As always, thanks in advance!

Cheers,
Mike

 

[bj40green]

As a BJ40 owner I'm not familiar with your truck but I seem to recall that the fuel filter, if you have one, can cause the dashlights to go on. There is a switch on the bottom which switches on the dash lights indicating the filter needs maintenance or replacement?


Rudi

 

[Douglas S]

15-15.9v sounds like overcharging.

 

[Prado]

15-15.9v sounds like overcharging.

Actually, that's what I thought when I saw that. As it turns out it was the alternator on it's way out. I took the truck in the other day to get my new suspension installed and about a block from the shop the volt meter on the dash dropped WAY below normal and dash lights started to flicker. By the time I reached the shop and turned it off, there wasn't enough juice to crank it over again! Since I was at the shop anyway I had them rebuild the 100A alternator that was on there and all is fine now! Thanks for all the suggestions though...this forum is GREAT!

Cheers,
Mike