Note: Before you begin, read the warning in the "Safety First" section at the beginning of this Guide and at the beginning of this chapter.
1. If the battery discharge light on the dashboard does not light when the ignition is turned on, first check the reliability of the generator connectors. If the connectors are OK, check whether the bulb itself is burnt out or the bulb socket is damaged. If the bulb still does not light, check the integrity of the wire from the generator to the bulb. If the wire is OK, then the generator is most likely faulty. Contact a service station to check, repair or replace the generator.
2. If the battery discharge light remains on while the engine is running, turn off the engine and check the alternator drive belt tension and the reliability of the alternator mounting. If the light still does not go out, send the alternator to a specialist for inspection and repair.
3. If there is a suspicion that the generator output voltage does not meet the Technical Requirements, although the indicator lamp works properly, you can check the output voltage as follows.
4. Connect the voltmeter wires to the battery terminals and start the engine.
5. Increase engine speed until the voltage stops increasing. This steady-state voltage should be between 12 and 13 V, but not more than 14.2 V.
6. Turn on as many electrical consumers as possible (headlights, rear window defroster, heater fan, etc.). The voltage should be between 13 and 14 V.
7. If the voltage differs from the specified value, this may be caused by wear of the generator brushes, weakening of the brush springs, wear of the collector rings, a malfunction of the voltage regulator, breakdown of the rectifier diodes, a break in the phase connection, and many other reasons. In this case, the generator must either be replaced or given to a specialist for inspection and repair.