Moparchat - Home of MOPAR enthusiasts worldwide!



Go Back   Moparchat - Home of MOPAR enthusiasts worldwide! > Technical Forums > Performance Talk

Click here to search for Mopar cars and parts for sale.


View Poll Results: Likely problem with charging system?
Bad Voltage Regulator 4 25.00%
Bad Alternator (brushes?) 4 25.00%
Bad Voltage regulator ground 1 6.25%
Bad connections to alternator/voltage regulator 5 31.25%
Other 2 12.50%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-22-2002, 12:50 AM
451Mopar 451Mopar is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Age: 59
Posts: 1,831
Help Charging system problem.

Ok, Who want's to take a guess at what is wrong with my charging system?
Symptom: The charging system on my 1971 Charger is randomaly working. When I first start the engine the charging system is not charging. I drove about three miles and was about to go back home when the charging system just started working again?

This did the same thing a few times at the race track Friday too.
I did a quick check and the alternator belt is fine. The alternator pulley seems tight (not slipping.) When this happens there is no charging and the voltage drops to 10-11 volts. Don't worry about the exact voltage, the important part is the battery is in the circuit, no open connection from battery through the key/ignition.

Check out the poll to vote for the most likely fault


I forgot to add to the poll, bad bulkhead disconnect (from the alternator, wire R6-12BK / bulkhead #18.)
I'll have to check it out tomorrow and see what the problem is.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-22-2002, 09:14 AM
skankweirdall skankweirdall is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: deltona/fl
Age: 67
Posts: 878
Default

Definatly check that bulkhead connection. Everything goes through the ammeter on the older cars so that would be my guess as to the most likely spot for trouble.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-22-2002, 06:28 PM
DodgeRamSS's Avatar
DodgeRamSS DodgeRamSS is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Sault Ste Marie
Age: 46
Posts: 42
Default

how old is the alternator? might be bad brush's.... happens alot. They get short and hang up until the vibrate back to connecting. Next time it happens try tapping the back of the alternator, if it comes back on then there ya go.

Hope that helps..... Chris
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-22-2002, 10:55 PM
chrger1970 chrger1970 is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Brooklyn, N.Y
Age: 58
Posts: 108
Default

Try unpluging the plug at the regulator and jumping the leads and see what happens. If it charges where it should be, then it could be the regulator, if not then the alternator. Try it.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-23-2002, 12:50 PM
timty2's Avatar
timty2 timty2 is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Pomona, CA USA
Posts: 134
Default

Double check the chassis ground and engine ground connections. Better yet, run a temp ground wire from the battery to the alternator case, and another from the battery to the voltage regulator case. You may have a bad ground to the engine block that gets a little better as you drive/vibrate things around a little!

Just a thought. Good Luck.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-23-2002, 04:36 PM
gsmopar's Avatar
gsmopar gsmopar is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Chandler / Arizona
Posts: 800
Default

Does the car have a factory Amp Meter?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-23-2002, 10:19 PM
451Mopar 451Mopar is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Age: 59
Posts: 1,831
Default

The battery is in the trunk, but I don't think that is the problem.
It has the factory amp meter. it is possable it could be the problem, but I think it may be the alternator brushes.
I don't think I will have a chance to check it out for awhile. I am just getting a new job/position at work (same employeer, but different job.) I'm sort of getting dumped into this new job and I have to get up to speed with the other engineers.

Oh, trouble shooting the problem won't be a problem. I am an electrical engineer. I just wanted to see what everyone else thinks the problem is?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-23-2002, 10:32 PM
70Barracuda's Avatar
70Barracuda 70Barracuda is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Beaverton, Oregon US
Age: 62
Posts: 625
Default

Mine did pretty much the same thing after racing it. I changed the 2 out and its fine now. I figure it was small pulley x RPM related.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-23-2002, 11:22 PM
gsmopar's Avatar
gsmopar gsmopar is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Chandler / Arizona
Posts: 800
Default

Mine did something similar too. Ended up that the wires to the Amp Meter heated up. They were still connected, but just looked a little discolored. I spliced in 3 or 4 inches on either side of the gauge and it works fine.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
charging system b5runner Restoring your MoPar (Tricks & techniques) 1 12-15-2007 02:19 PM
Charging System MiMAX Vintage MOPAR chat 1 05-09-2006 08:39 AM
Charging system usdart Restoring your MoPar (Tricks & techniques) 17 03-01-2004 02:29 AM
Charging system ddarnell Vintage MOPAR chat 8 02-15-2004 03:05 PM
Charging System Problem Magnum58 Vintage MOPAR chat 3 07-23-2002 07:58 AM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:05 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
. . . . .