Hello all!
I recently acquired my very first project car and my first Olds! a 1979 Cutlass Supreme with a 305 and automatic transmission.

I am looking forward to tinkering with this car and getting her back to her former glory and I am so happy to have found this community to get some good resources and advice from!
I have a few questions in regards to the warning/idiot light cluster to the right of the speedometer. While my car is either key on or engine running, my gen light is constantly on.

From the reading i have done here, it seems the alternator and/or wiring could be the culprit for that. The previous owners have done a bunch of sketchy wiring and its a rats nest under the hood. Is there any diagnostic or common checks that could rule out certain parts of the charging system? Eg, bad alt, bad voltage regulator, fuses, wiring, ground, something to do with the "gen" light itself?

As well, just from also doing some more reading on here, i guess my Cutlass is supposed to have more warning lights in addition to the gen light when you first cycle the key (seatbelt, oil, hot, brake, etc) and its supposed to do a self check when the key is first turned on? If someone could please clarify that it should self check when first turned on, that would be great! Because as of right now, no other lights come on when the ignition is turned on. Is there a common issue with the warning light circuit itself that would cause none of them to illuminate? (Besides the "gen" light)
I will be pulling and checking all fuses under the dash as a start!

Thanks so much!

 

There is a fuse marked gages, check that first. With the engine off check the voltage across your battery, normal volts should be 12.6-13.2v. With the engine running the voltage should be 13.8-14.5 depending on load.

 

Checked the fuses under the dash and found the gauges fuse blown. As well as the AC/Heater fuse blown. I replaced every fuse under there just cause. Got all my warning lights and key buzzer back and I also got the blower and heater working as a result! (Although the blower motor itself sounds quite noisy) Gonna grab my meter from work after the long weekend and check out the voltages. I will probably end up replacing the alternator anyways just cause it easy and cheap enough to.

 

Assuming the gauges fuse is good (I think the backup lights are on the same fuse, do they work?) if you ground the brown wire at the 2 pin alternator connector, the charge light should come on. If not, and none of the other gauges or dash lights work, it’s time to get a factory service manual and start tracing wiring. Start with any butt connectors, household wire nuts, cheap crimp connectors, anyplace that suggests less than competent wiring skills. I hate fixing other people’s half *** wiring “repairs”!!