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i have an 81 f100 with idiot lights.and just noticed that the little battery pic was blinking at me.but when i turn on any thing electrical it stops blinking and goes dark like it should.
Exciter current to the alternator passes through the idiot light when the key is first turned to run.
When the engine is started and the alternator is turning out power, voltage should be equal on both sides of the filament and the light goes out.
If it takes a load to cause the alternator to start charging I would suspect the regulator first.
I ask because when I replaced the alternator and voltage regulator on my 1980, I had some weird behavior with my idiot light as well...and it didn't go away until I replaced the NAPA Echlin regulator with a proper Motorcraft one.