The generator provides voltage in order to operate the vehicle's electrical system. The generator also provides voltage in order to charge the battery. The generator operates as an alternator in order to generate Alternating Current (AC) electricity which rectifies to Direct Current (DC) electricity.

A belt drives the generator. The generator rotates as the engine runs. The regulator induces an excitation magnetic field in the generator's rotor. The generator's rotation causes the excitation field to move through the stator windings. The motion of the field through the stator conductors induces an alternating magnetic field to be generated in the stator. Diodes in the rectifier bridge allow stator current to flow as a result of this alternating magnetic field. Stator current only flows in the one direction that charges the battery. The generator's internal solid state voltage regulator regulates the pulse width of the excitation field in order to regulate the voltage generated at the BAT terminal at 14 V, nominally.

The excitation field is present in the generator only when the ignition switch is in the RUN position or the START position. The generator does not contain permanent magnetism of sufficient strength in order to produce a useable excitation magnetic field. The generator's Turn On input is present from CKT 25 (BRN). CKT 25 (BRN) connects the generator to the instrument cluster. Voltage is present to the instrument cluster from circuit breaker 25 in the IP fuse block. The BAT indicator lamp only illuminates when sufficient current flow exists in order to cause the lamp filament to emit light. The resistor allows the slight current flow used by the generator in normal operations. The resistor bypasses the indicator lamp. Thus, an open filament in the lamp does not prevent generator operations.

The generator controls the BAT indicator lamp in the instrument cluster. Internal logic at the generator closes an internal contact to ground the indicator lamp circuit when the generator is not rotating or when the sensed generator output voltage is either too high or too low. The indicator lamp circuit is only powered when the ignition switch is in the RUN or START position.