i'm having some electrical problems with my 89 pickup...
..when i turn the truck on, all of the lights on the instrument panel are lit up (the parking brake light, low batt light, & a/t oil temp light)... my battery is fine, my parking brake is off, and my a/t is not hot.. also, the backlight on all the guages is dimmer than usual... any ideas??

 

All your lights coming on when you turn the key on is a "bulb check". If the lights are on when it's running you have a problem.
Dim lights means some of the bulbs are probably burnt out.

 

yeah... the lights are on when its running.

 

bad alternator, happened to me.

 

^ x2 bad alt.

 

i tested the alternator, and it is well within specs... i can see why the dim backlight would be a symptom of a bad alternator.. but do the parking, at oil temp, and batt lights come on with a bad alternator? i dont understand why it would do that. i think it is a problem with the wiring... not to undermine you guys.. thanks for the help.. i just want all the info i can get before i go replacing things.. any other ideas?

 

the alternator is putting out almost 15 volts at idle... and the lights on the dash only come on intermittently.. then go away.. then come back. and the backlight on the instrument panel is only dimmed when the dash indicator lights come on.

 

My alternator was charging also. But something in the alternator is going bad and I did not want to drive around knowing I might get stranded. The lights came on as I was driving down the highway. I parked the truck and changed the alt. the next day. (good thing NAPA is 2 minutes away if you walk).

 

ok.. so the lights coming on are like a warning for a bad alternator?.. kinda like a check engine light for your charging system? thanks

...ps.. i know my starter has gone bad (not due to a lack of charge.. it cranks fine when i hit it with my lug wrench.. so, solenoid right?).. is there any way that a bad starter can cause the same symptoms?.. if the brushes & contacts are worn also?

 

nevermind... you guys were completely right.. bad alternator.. battery is dead this morning.. now i get to replace my alternator, and starter contacts yaaaay haha thanks for all the help!! anyone want to come fish a starter out of the 3.0??! haha yeah right

 

cool, it took me about 20 minutes to replace the alternator. runs just fine, no more lights, no more dim backlight. THANKS GUYS!!!

i"ll wrestle the starter tomorrow