Alternator charge light not coming on?

[WHITCHY]

Can someone please help me out with this?
My alternator light used to come one when the ignition was on,but engine wasn't running and would turn off when the engine was running, but now it never comes on.
I have a multimeter here, but I just don't know what readings I should be getting or where to start looking?
Joel (TurboRA28) was helping me out with this, but he has gone away for work so now he can't help me for a week!
The last thing I did with him was put the multimeter across the battery with the engine runnning and I can't remember what reading it was, but it was too low showing no charging.
Can someone pick up where he left off? what should I be checking next, and what reading should I be getting? I think he said something about putting the mutlimeter between the -ve terminal on the battery and the bolt on the alternator with the wire going direct to battery, but I didn't get to ask him what the reading should be!
Thanks heaps for any help!
Cheers.
-Whitchy-

[JustCallMeOrlando]

Check the voltage across the terminals when the car is off, and it should be somewhere in the vicinity of 12.something volts. Start the car and check it again, and you can expect somewhere between 13-14V providing the alternator is charging.

[WHITCHY]

ok I will give that a shot, I forgot to say that the car doesn't idle, so I have to hold the revs at about 1.8k rpm. Will that effect the reading at all?
Thanks heaps!
-Whitchy-

[JustCallMeOrlando]

You'll still be able to see it charging, because it'll be higher than when off.

[WHITCHY]

ok, its 12.4 when engine off and about 12.38 when running.
Where can I look next to figure out where the problem is?
Thanks heaps!
-Whitchy-

[Norbie]

Look at the alternator, which is obviously shagged. Take it to an auto sparky to rebuild/replace it.

[JustCallMeOrlando]

Check everything on this: http://toymods.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2705

The alternator won't charge without the charge light being there. Yours isn't charging. I wouldn't be running it too long like that, most batteries aren't a huge fan of being really drained.

[WHITCHY]

If the alternator is rooted the charge light should at least be coming on.
The alternator isnt that old, so it is more likely a wiring problem, I just don't know which wire!
I will read all that alternator stuff and try and figure it out!
I just tried earting the wire for the charge light like witzl said in his thread and the dash light still didn't come on, I pulled the light out and it is fine.
guess I will just keep searching for the problem unless someone suggests specific wires to look at.
Thanks for the help so far.
Cheers.
-Whitchy-

[SmellyTofu]

Have you checked the brushes in the alternator?

[Joshstix]

If the main power cable to the alternator is disconnected it will not charge and the light will not come on.

[WHITCHY]

Well who'd a thunk the engine fuse would have something to do with the alternator!
I was reading through the alternator stuff linked to by Frank and it had a trouble shooting thing and it said check engine fuse and it was busted!
All good now!
Thanks heaps for the help and suggestions tho!
Cheers.
-Whitchy-

[JustCallMeOrlando]

Good to hear it worked out for you! It's nearly always something small.

[poida]

Some good info guys... Hope this helps me as I just changed my alternator in my ke70 and it isnt charging at all and the charge light has not come on.... Hopefully its just fuse!