DLK Posted May 9, 2010 Report Share Posted May 9, 2010 On the drive yesterday I put 68 miles on my car. After about 30 miles the ammeter was suddenly pegged on +45 amps for about 3 miles then went back to normal (slight charge). Then on the way home with about 10 miles to go it pegged to +45 amps again but just for a minute then went back to normal. About 5 miles from home it stopped charging at all and just showed discharge. I started the car this morning and it is still not showing any charge. Reading old posts it appears that the original regulators were pretty bulletproof but the foreign-made replacements are less than reliable. My car has a replacement that looks quite new. I am concerned because there is a major cruise event this coming weekend and I need to try to solve this. Can someone direct me how to measure output from the generator to make sure it is not the culprit? I have one of those Radio Shack OLM and Volt meters but must confess I am pretty dense when it comes to electricity and how to use that meter. One other odd thing - I had the radio rebuilt and when I turn it on now it shows a discharge of about 15-20 amps. I can't believe an 803 MOPAR tube radio uses that much current - or does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 10, 2010 Report Share Posted May 10, 2010 Dave the original radios are energy hogs. Heck my new 3 brake light setup shows about 10amp discharge with the car off. Napa sells new regulators I wonder where they are made.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLK Posted May 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2010 Dave the original radios are energy hogs. Heck my new 3 brake light setup shows about 10amp discharge with the car off. Napa sells new regulators I wonder where they are made.... I bought one on ebay today for $20 I figure it's worth a try since Rock Auto is $75 and Bernbaum is $50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg g Posted May 10, 2010 Report Share Posted May 10, 2010 in the manual there is a test for checking whether the fault is the geny or the VR. Stat the car and set it on high idle or adjust the idle screw to give you about 700 rpm. jumper the firld terminal of the genny to ground if the ammeter pegs full charge the genny is ok, if there is no reading it likely the VR. Sometimes you can remove the vr cover and dress the points and get things back to normal again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLK Posted May 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2010 in the manual there is a test for checking whether the fault is the geny or the VR. Stat the car and set it on high idle or adjust the idle screw to give you about 700 rpm. jumper the firld terminal of the genny to ground if the ammeter pegs full charge the genny is ok, if there is no reading it likely the VR. Sometimes you can remove the vr cover and dress the points and get things back to normal again. Thanks - I have a shop manual and guess I should have started there! This morning I did take the cover off and did a little filing of the points but it didn't help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLK Posted May 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 I put a new regulator from O'Reilly, polarized it and my system is charging again. I don't understand - that regulator I took out of the car couldn't have been more than 2 years old as shiny as the metal was. For peace of mind I am going to keep the second one I ordered off e-bay in the trunk from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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