|
|
| Author |
Message |
64conv65hard
TBI Slant 6
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 206
Location: germantown maryland
|
|
Post subject:
Alt. or Volt. Reg.?
(Sun May 27, 2012 6:18 am)
|
 |
|
|
| Need some help on charging issues. Coming home last night from the White House after HBO filming with the 65 Valiant I noticed the Amp meter on discharge. Put my meter on the battery when I got home and sure enough, not charging. I've upgraded to the elect. volt. reg. a few years ago and new alternator at that same time. What are the test procedures to determine whether it's a bad voltage regulator or a bad alternator? Thanks.
_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota
|
|
| Back to top |
|
slantzilla
Board Sponsor & Moderator
Joined: 17 Oct 2002
Posts: 9419
Location: Park Forest, Illinoisy
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun May 27, 2012 9:01 am)
|
|
|
|
| Single field wire alternator? Pull the field wire and ground it momentarily, If it starts charging it's the regulator. If it doesn't it's the alternator. Only ground it for a short time though, it will let the alternator go over 18 volts.
_________________
Proud supporter of Mike Jeffrey Racing Engines since 1999.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
64conv65hard
TBI Slant 6
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 206
Location: germantown maryland
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun May 27, 2012 9:45 am)
|
|
|
|
| It's dual field alt.
_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota
|
|
| Back to top |
|
SlantSixDan
Board Sponsor & Contributor
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 21888
Location: North America
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun May 27, 2012 11:45 am)
|
|
|
|
| slantzilla wrote: | | Single field wire alternator? Pull the field wire and ground it momentarily |
…thus burning up the voltage regulator. On a single-field alternator, you do the full-field test by pulling the field wire and using a test lead to connect the alternator's BAT output stud to the alternator's FLD terminal to see if the alternator begins charging.
On the dual-field alternator in question, you pull both field wires, connect one of the alternator's FLD terminal to ground, and connect the alternator's other FLD terminal to the BAT output stud to see if the alternator begins charging. It does not matter which FLD terminal is which.
It's important not to raise the engine speed above idle or system voltage will climb to dangerous levels._________________ 一期一会
By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
64conv65hard
TBI Slant 6
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 206
Location: germantown maryland
|
|
Post subject:
(Sun May 27, 2012 2:58 pm)
|
|
|
|
| Thanks Dan, will try and let you know results.
_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota
|
|
| Back to top |
|
64conv65hard
TBI Slant 6
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 206
Location: germantown maryland
|
|
Post subject:
(Mon May 28, 2012 1:27 pm)
|
|
|
|
Dan,
Voltage did not climb so I assume this means bad Alt. and assuming voltage did climb, it would signify bad Volt. Reg?
_________________
64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota
|
|
| Back to top |
|
KBB_of_TMC
Turbo Slant 6
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 852
|
|
Post subject:
(Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:32 am)
|
|
|
|
With full field power, the alternator ought to put out as much as it can - which can go to a much higher voltage than you'd like, so turn the radio off before you try that, as I got ~20V when I tried it.
If you get no charging, then the alt is bad - it might just be the brushes (very easy & inexpensive to replace from the outside of a std Mopar alt, unlike other brands). If it's not the brushes, you have to either replace the alt or open it up. It's not unusual for one or more diodes to have failed and the stator windings to be bad. If you do open it up, I'd suggest replacing the bearings too if they're >45 years old. Keep in mind that alternators often partially fail - it's not always all or nothing.
Some parts chains (Pep Boys, Advance Auto) offer free testing of alternators out of the car - sometimes the people there know what they're doing, and sometimes not.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
SlantSixDan
Board Sponsor & Contributor
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 21888
Location: North America
|
|
Post subject:
(Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:16 am)
|
|
|
|
Yeah, be careful where you buy your replacement alternator. The "remanufactured" ones from parts stores are garbage. You can get a new(!) one from Old Car Parts Northwest (or from me; I think I still have one or two new ones on shelf)._________________ 一期一会
By birth & parentage: US citizen, 2nd class
By choice: Canadian citizen, 1st class
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
