I noticed last night my gen light no longer comes on bright when turning the key to start the car. In the dark I can see a slight glow. It was working fine
the day before, nothing change. It was the first time I drove with the head lights on. On that topic I notice my rpm's drop a little when I turn on the lights. I found a lot of post about the gen light staying on but can anyone point me in a direction to get the gen lite to light up?
As always, thanks for the GREAT support. I realize you are never really done.

I would start by cleaning the connections at the voltage regulator and alternator. If you look close at the open end of the plastic connector, there is an groove running in on one side. You can slide a tool (I use a bent open paperclip, ground a lil flat) into the groove to release the tab that holds the terminal in, and pull it out by the wire. Clean it good, or replace it if it's correded real bad, then bend the tab back out and slide it back in the plastic. It should lock in with a click you can feel and here and you shouldn't be able to pull it back out.

Also clean the terminals on the reg and alternator as best you can, hard to get in there on the alt.

Be sure to disconnect the battery while you're doing all this.

If you have to replace any terminals, I've bought them at Napa, it's best to bring in a sample. Be sure to cut back to "Clean" wire, crimp and solder the connections.

Thanks Jim, Are you referring to the reg connections or alt? "If you look close at the open end of the plastic connector, there is an groove running in on one side." BTW: All new wiring.

Don, swap alts to see if light changes. Diodes going bad do wierd things.

I have another date correct/rebuilt for the other car. I'll swap them in the AM. Thanks for the idea!

Was talking about both connectors, Don, bet your problem is corrosion.

Just sliding the conector on and off a half dozen times might fix it.

Thanks Jim, I'll that first.

I had a 69 years ago that did the same thing, the alt light was dim when the car was running, yet didn't light up when the key was in the on position, if I remember right the fuse that controls the idiot lights in the fuse panel was blown. If it works, let me know, I had this car back in 1978 or so.

Back out to the garage to check the fuse. Thanks

Kevin, New alt in no change in gen light.

Hmmmm. After engine is run have you tried turning the key on to see what the gen light looks like? If the Alt is OK, then is is wiring or connections, poor gound maybe?

Don, This article, from the electrical basics sticky, goes thru troubleshooting the external regulator system with voltage checks. It will help you narrow down the problem.
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=77994

There are other articles here http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=71062 that will help if you need a better understanding on electricity and using a voltmeter.

Do all your other instrument lights work? Could be a bad ground to the panel, or just the light where it makes contact to the circuit board.

Well, change alt, check fuses, clean connetions so I'll go with the grd idea. I have 2 grounds from the main harness and a ground on the reg. I'll remove the wash bottle mount and dounble check those grounds and make sure the grd on the reg mounting screw is also good. Thanks!

Dave, All instrument panel lights work good. The emergency brake light is very bright, right next to the dull gen light. Tough part of the dash to play with vcery tight in there. I'll check grds again per Kevin and maybe pull the light pod. Thats never fun getting back in.

I think the lights on the dash are served from the ground near the hazard flasher behind the ashtray.

I think the lights on the dash are served from the ground near the hazard flasher behind the ashtray.
The GEN light is NOT connected to any dash ground.

It is fed power by the ignition switch, the other end of the lamp goes to the brown wire in the reg (bottom terminal) which in turn is "indirectly" connected to the, hmmmm..... I always get foggy on these wire colors, but it's the alternator terminal that is NOT labelled "F"

The entire gen light circuit is isolated from ground, rather it works because if you put 12 volts on both sides of the bulb (normal charging situation) the bulb will not light.

Also, all the other idiot lights in the dash are wired as "active low" that it, one side of the bulb recieves 12 volts from the igniton circuit, the bulb lights when the other side is grounded by it's sending unit. True for temp, oil, and brake lights.

The dash ground is only used by the illumination lights, turn indicators, and fuel guage (and tach & clock if equipped.)