93 Ranger Battery Light Question

[KBM3]

My 1993 2.3 Rangers Battery Light is ON on the dash. I have traced it to the white wire with black stripe which is independently plugged into the alternator. I have cleaned the contacts and checked for broken wiring, however the light will only go off if i fiddle with the plug but eventually it comes on and stays on. My question is can I run the vehicle like this? It appears the alternator is charging according to the gauge and the lights are bright with heater blower on etc. Is this a sign of a sour alternator? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[way2old]

If you can wiggle the wire and th light goes out, the alternator is not at fault. Look at the wiring closely and you will find a place that is almost broken and the vibration of the vehicle will cause a connection to break and turn the light on.

[KBM3]

Thank you for the response. If it is a broken or almost broken wire what does the wire do anyway? Does it just feed the dash light? If so, could I drive it back and forth to work (about 10 miles each way but in the dark in the morning) while I find the problem or could it damage something else? Thanks again.

[way2old]

It should just feed current to the light. Driving without a fix right now shouldn't cause a problem. You can unplug it, start truck and check charging at the battery. If battery voltage is around 14 volts while running, you can drive it safely.

[KBM3]

Success! I took your advice and THOROUGHLY inspected the wiring. The wire in question was no more than 5 inches long and was in perfect condition. I then put a continuity meter on it and voila the connection kept breaking. I carefully removed the plastic clip on the end and found the crimped connector which plugs into the alternator was corroded and about broken in two. While messing with it I ended up completely breaking it in half. A trip to the auto parts store was no help so I just jammed the wire back into what was left of the connector, soldered it good and tight and reassembled the plastic part over top and now the light is off! Thank you for all the great advice and help.

[way2old]

Glad it was a simple fix. Congratulations and thanks for the fix post.