Charging issue on 67
Both my alternator and voltage regulator were restored by a very well known restorer in Ga. In starting my engine last night for the 1st time since it was rebuilt, (finally finishing a 20 yr restoration), the system will not recharge the battery. The gauge shows a discharge with interior lights or headlights on, but does not register a charge at all. I carried the alternator to Autozone tonight and they said it checked out good. All wiring connections appear to be tight at the gauge and volt reg and alt. I'm thinking maybe the voltage regulator may be bad. How does one check it for correct function? And is there another place I should look at for a possible problem? I thought about buying a cheap volt reg from Autozone just to eliminate that, but I don't really want to spend un-necessary money. TIA
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Re: Charging issue on 67
How old is the battery -
Re: Charging issue on 67
Brand new Gm battery as of 2 weeks agoComment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
what voltage do you get on the alternator, voltage regulator and what voltage do you get on the battery when the car is running?Rob.
NCRS Dutch Chapter Founder & Board Member
NCRS Software Developer
C1, C2 and C3 Registry DeveloperComment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
Al, let me understand your question. Is the battery not charging or are you just not showing 13.8 volts on the gauge with the engine running? You know the alternator is good, but there are a couple of things that it could be. Your belt could be loose, the gauge could not be adjusted/functioning properly, it could be the voltage regulator as you said, or it could be in the wiring (which seems unlikely with what you said).
I'd check the incoming voltage to the battery. If it's fine then you can eliminate the belt tension and the voltage regulator and look at the gauge. If it's not fine then the problem could be the voltage regulator or the belt tension.
Paul
P.S. Harbour Freight sells mutitesters for around $10 on sale. The red ones are HF.
IMG_0882.jpgComment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
Paul, the belt is tight. The cluster, including all gauges were rebuilt by an NCRS member who advertises his expertise in the restorer. Both main and engine compartment harnesses are new. At the present time, I'm at the coast until Monday (daughter and son-in-law -- house & large dog sitting for me), so it will be at least then until I could check voltages. I did have to recharge the battery during the starting and timing & carb adjustment period (during which I discovered the distributor is 1 tooth off- another problem which I had trying to get the rotor and distributor to align properly.) I pulled the cover off the volt reg to see if the points were making contact with either the upper or lower contact when the engine is running. I want to say it does make contact with the top one when running and rests in between both contacts when the engine is off. When I pushed up or down on the center point to make contact with the other, it still would not show any charge on the gauge. There is 1 other set of contacts inside the reg which, when open or closed did not seem to matter either. I do have a multi test meter which will read DC volts, but at that time it was in my work truck at another site.Comment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
Paul, 1 other thing, if you remove the battery ground cable while the engine is running, the engine cuts off immediately.Comment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
The voltage regular is ajustable look in your service manual on how to adjust it, its very easy.
MikeComment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
I'll take a look at that. I just don't want to do anything that would make the rebuilder not warranty it. I guess it would be simple enough to try to adjust it and keep up with what was turned and how much. Is the adjustment the screw thing in front of the contact points? Thanks AlComment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
Al,
The proper way to troubleshoot is to take both the alternator and voltage regulator to be tested together. Also, if you suspect the battery test it with a load tester after it's been fully charged.Comment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
Al -
Are both ends of the black ground wire in the harness connected (at the voltage regulator base and at the ground stud on the back of the alternator)? If the regulator and alternator aren't grounded to each other, the alternator won't charge.Comment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
John, they are. AlComment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
Adjustment procedure is in the manual, but if done according to manual it's not "easy." Have you read the whole procedure? You can do a quick and dirty adjustment, however, but bending the tang that holds the spring one way or the other. Best to ask your rebuilder for details.Comment
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Re: Charging issue on 67
Al,
Take a look at this thread in the archives, see post number 6 and following:
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...ght=Volticator
You can check the charging voltage with one of those Walmart volticators which plugs into the cigarette lighter. On a 67, you can adjust the charging voltage at the voltage regulator. Go by the procedure in the 67 Service Manual for your voltage regulator. It is a pretty easy adjustment. I have had to reduce the charging voltage on my gel battery after boiling a few lead acid batteries.
However, with a brand new battery and fully charged, the ammeter on a 67 might not show a positive reading when the battery is supposed to be charging, maybe for a short minute after you start. The battery may be pushing more voltage than the regulator is set at. Maybe try to discharge the battery a little for a test by leaving the brights on for a while before you start it. For a gel battery, I had to keep the charging voltage below 14.5V, that would also apply to a lead acid battery, if you don't want to cook them.Jerry Fuccillo
1967 327/300 Convertible since 1968Comment
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