i was curious if anyone had any pointers on why my charge light on my cluster wont come on when i turn the key in the "on" position.... if i probe the conector with a test light to a ground it dimly lights up the bulb on the test light when i probe the blue wire. and it turns the light on in the cluster. but when i plug the plug into the alternator it doesnt turn on when i turn the key in the "on" position.

Check afm. Fuel fuse in the kick pAnel or the fuel circuit relay I think that's what is called next to the globe inside the dash.

the light comes on.... just not while plugged in to alternator.... and the fuses and relays tested good.

tak209 wrote:the light comes on.... just not while plugged in to alternator.... and the fuses and relays tested good.

This leads me to believe the alternator is at fault. Try a known good alternator if you can.

i ordered one at autozone. i tried a new gze alternator and just made a adapter harness but it didnt work.... im gonna try with a new alternator as soon as it comes in.

I would try and steer away from Autozone parts.. In my experience they just dont last, but will work great until the warranty is up.
My old f150 ate their starters like candy.

I got a replacement dizzy from them, inside looked good, plugs were new, new wiring. died in 3 months. upon further investigation, the wiring and plugs were new, sensors were old as hell and the soldering job looked like a blind 3 y.o. did it. Someone gave me a autozone rebuilt starter for my ae86 for free, lasted 2 weeks.

There stuff is great in a pinch, and cause its inexpensive, but the quality is crap and dont expect a long life, like you got out of the original 25+ year old alternator

hmm ive never really had a problem. ive had the same dizzy and starter on my rolla with no issues. and it has lifetime warranty on both. :/

Had my charge light turn off / come on during a grocery run the other night. Coincidentally, I installed a cheap voltmeter into the hole near the ignition a week ago. New alternator at O'Reilly ($95, lifetime warranty), an hour in the driveway, and all's well.

ok new alternator and still no light. my ebrake light doesnt come off when i take the brake lever down either...

My ebrake light did the same thing when the alternator went... it sounds like the wiring is ok... maybe the connections in the harness are all gunked up?

well i cant find the relay for it. and i cleaned all the connections. i thought the relay i found was it but it was for something else. i cant find the charge light relay. in the FSM it says it is on the right side near to COR but its not there. maybe because mine is a 85 corolla and the FSM is for the 86 kouki??

if you have a gts there is no charge light relay.... i found the 85 diagram and only SR5 corollas have the relay.