hello,

i'm replacing the instrument cluster with new after market gauges. therefore, i won't have the alternator bulb and battery light in my charging system route. this will cause my alternator to not charge my battery. how can i create a bypass so the alternator will continue to charge my battery while using the new gauges?

thanks!

does anybody have an answer for me? bump

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[This message has been edited by tshark (edited 09-08-2018).]

I'm sure somebody who knows a lot more than me will chime in, but I heard somewhere along the way that the bulb is actually inline with the charging system.

Are you using the stock Fiero CS alternator? Then you should have the wiring for the VOLTS light. If you choose not to display it on your panel, that's OK, but you still need the light because the alternator checks the voltage on that wire to decide when to start charging. Visit the Ogre's Cave electrical section to see some diagrams and learn how the system works. I think you can substitute a resistor for the bulb, but seeing the light is useful.

The bulb is simply a load. All you have to do is replace it with a resistor. The 84's have a resistance wire instead of a bulb, since there is no charging light. The value in the 84 service manual is 10 ohms, +/- 1 ohm (so 10% tolerance or better). Replacing a bulb rated for 5 Watts at best, means 5 Watt or better resistor.

Definitely overkill, but it would work, and $0.89 + shipping:

http://www.mouser.com/Produ...uhR%2f0DbTCc7inLI%3d

thank you everybody for the responses. the car is in fact an 84. so i just need to run the wires from the harness into the resistor? i have the diagram for the left and right harnesses that go into the original cluster.

Since on your 84 there was already a resistor since they had no light you can just hook it up. The resistor is already there.

thank you. where is this resistor located? i see the left and right wire harnesses but dont see a resistor. thanks