I find the light comes on faintly at lower rpms but as they get higher the light gets brighter. at idle the light is off...

I have a new battery and alternator so I would hope they are not the problem and I have never had this light before and I have owned the car for 13 years.

Any suggestions?

 

Have you checked your voltage regulator on the firewall? And measure the voltage at the battery at idle and 1500 rpm.

 

I don't have a voltage regulator...

This was the first trip of the year with it and it developed a gas leak at the tank so I need to replace that before I go anymore into it but I was just looking for ideas on what could be going on.

 

You do have a VR, its either internal to the alternator or external mounted on your firewall. Your car originally had an external VR. The reason your light is coming on is that you are running off the battery and not charging. The brighter the light, the higher the draw.

 

ok, sorry... I don't have one on the firewall so it must be in the alternator...

How can I tell if the one in the alternator is working correctly?? the alternator is brand new and looked exactly the same as the old one.

I am running HEI too if that helps

 

The HEI should have nothing to do with your issue. Since your car originally had a VR on the firewall, who changed it to an alternator with internal VR, which alternator do you have, and was the wiring conversion done correctly?

 

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...red-light.html

 

Your original alternator (if the car still had the original) would have been a rare open-face, internal regulator unit. Hopefully you still have that. I doubt any replacement will be this style. If the new alternator is a Chinesium rebuild, there's a non-zero chance that it's bad. Also, be sure all the wires are clean and tight. In particular, check the terminals where they attach to the threaded stud on the horn relay. These terminals corrode, causing enough of a voltage drop to cause your problem.

 

"Since your car originally had a VR on the firewall, who changed it to an alternator with internal VR, which alternator do you have, and was the wiring conversion done correctly?"

442's were internally regulated

 

I kept the original and it is a china produced part.

I will check connections a such... maybe I will replace the belt too.... not sure how old it is...

I have not had this problem before, so I would believe the wiring was done right.

 

I suspect bad diodes or a bad (burnt) stator usually at the stator to diode connection. Possibly a burnt Wye connection on the stator. Have you taken a volt reading at idle and higher rpm? Is there a howling sound? Some describe it as a bearing noise, when it can actually be an electrical noise.

 

1969 442's used integral alternators, They never had a voltage regulator on the firewall!

 

Joe posted this earlier in the thread.

Wondering if the OP has fixed the issue?

 

Ok, so I decided to change the belt out since its been on the car as long as I have had it and who knows how old it is and I have not had a problem since. Funny it was not a problem with the old alternator.

Thanks for the help