I did a search but didn't find anything on this, maybe I'm just bad at it. Anyway my alternator idiot light is on but we tested it at the battery with a meter and it was around 12 volts when it was off and around 14 after I started it. I cleaned some contacts that I could find but the light is still on. Does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this? Thanks!

 

I dont know if this is your problem but make sure your belt is tight it happened on a nova I had.

 

You could have a short somewhere in the idiot light circuit, that also happened to me on a Nova. Or your alt could be going bad, 14v is one thing but it has to be able to produce enough amps as well. Take to advance or whatever and have them test everything.
Alex

 

Check your fuses, I just had an Infinity in the shop thet had the same issue after instaling a new alt.

 

If this is an older computer carbureted engine the light also signals a problem with the electric choke (like unplugged, shorted, whatever). Don't ask me why GM did it this way but it's a piece of circuitry that's made many on this board pull their hair out.

 

If the light stays on when the key is off, then the alternator has a bad diode.

 

Thanks for the replies, the car was parked for 8 years and the guy said when he tried to start it a couple of months ago it came on. I have been driving it and so far the battery hasn't gone dead. I will check in to some of these ideas and see if I can find a problem.

 

Really? Cause all the factory carbed f-bodies i've seen had a choke light.