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 GEN light came on, whats that mean?
#991303
03/25/10 04:23 AM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 259
OP
Mudrunner
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Have a 96 XJ with 110k miles and the GEN light on the instrument cluster came on while I was driving Monday. I'm the third owner and apparently the owner's manual I have isn't the original as it doesn't even list that a GEN light should be on my dash anywhere.
Does anyone know what seeing this light means? It hasn't come back on after driving a number of times since then.
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Re: GEN light came on, whats that mean?
[Re: hacker]
#991304
03/26/10 01:42 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 111
Wheeler
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I don't know what that light is, but I can take a stab at it from stuff i've seen... Your charging voltage dropped below a certain thresh hold. I would pull the back cover off the alternator. This will expose the slip rings. inspect the brushes and the brass ring they ride on. The alternator (65 amp or whatever is stock) on my jeep chewed up those slip rings and brushes from all the dirt/sand that kept getting thrown on it. I was charging at a measly 13v with the lights on and engine at 2000 rpm.
91 YJ
2 Seater Sand Rail
Handfull of other fun toys...
And a brand new, spit shined, B.S.
Oh, and a job to boot.
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Re: GEN light came on, whats that mean?
[Re: sunder]
#991305
03/26/10 07:12 AM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 259
OP
Mudrunner
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Thanks for the help Sunder. Other people have said it might have something to do with my alternator so I should start checking connections and then the alternator itself.
Any advice on where to get a good alternator? Should I stay away from remans or are they ok? Noticed NAPA has some 90amp Bosch reman alternators.
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Re: GEN light came on, whats that mean?
[Re: hacker]
#991306
03/26/10 05:51 PM
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,247
Trail Leader
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I have used remans several times with no problems.
And, I have always had good luck with NAPA parts.
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Re: GEN light came on, whats that mean?
[Re: hacker]
#991307
03/26/10 07:34 PM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 111
Wheeler
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After checking the connections and they are ok, I'd pull the alt and disassemble the back plate. If the slip rings are chewed up just replace it. Reman or junkyard is good. I prefer to go to the yard and pull an alt out and check it's condition. The factory usually does a better job building things than a reman outfit. And most vehicles at a junkyard are wrecked (possible low miles) or just old, but probably not offroaded and abused.
91 YJ
2 Seater Sand Rail
Handfull of other fun toys...
And a brand new, spit shined, B.S.
Oh, and a job to boot.
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Re: GEN light came on, whats that mean?
[Re: hacker]
#991308
03/30/10 01:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 534
Rock Warrior
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One other (and very simple) thing to check - the neg connection to the battery. My GF's 2001 Cherokee had a bad connection at the negative terminal (couldn't be clamped down tight enough on the battery post), and it gave me an overcharging reading (pinned at 21v or whatever is top) while 300 miles away from home. Was nothing more than a bad connection, but had me wondering if I was about to burn out the headlights and ended up calling AAA when it wouldn't crank again at a gas stop before I figured out what the problem was.
97tj, Shaved Ford 9 rear, 4:10's, New 35x12.5 BFG KM2's to test!, Warn x8000i, ARB's, Quick Disco's, Hand Throttle, & it's my DD. 
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Re: GEN light came on, whats that mean?
[Re: hacker]
#991309
04/02/10 03:03 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 306
Mudrunner
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Also check the two main alternator feed fuses in the PDC (Underhood relay center). If someone jump started it backwards it may have blown these two fuses. Usually they are 60 amp Maxi-Fuses.
If you need a new alternator, a 120, 135 or 150 amp large case alt off of a ZJ is a bolt on! You may need to swap the pulley and main wiring insulator if you get one for a V8 instead of a six. Be sure to upgrade the two PDC fuses if you get the bigger alt.
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