Joined: Thu Oct 13 2005, 02:39AM
Location: Hudson Valley N.Y.
Posts: 22
I noticed my old battery (6+yrs) on my 73 fury had a slight bulge and the caps blew off twice that horrid smell of battery acid. I replaced the battery and it started again, I got a new regulator and another and another and its still the same. If I load up the system I can get the votage to drop to 13's -14's. I replaced the alternator last year with one that had the small pulley. Is it bad well it seems to be putting out juice accordingly from 14-15's. I am at a loss . Could the smaller pulley make the alternator put out more juice? The dash guage shows constant charge and it will drop slightly when I load up the system, a/c lights, wipers, etc. The battery is fully charged and shows 13.7 with the engine off.
I also have a 74 monaco with the police alternator 100 amp it put out 15 and will drop when loaded to the hight 12's this one has the large group battery. We replaced the old substandard 60 amp that would always show discharge.
With all the parts you changed without any improvement I would suggest looking at the wiring. Something might be shorted to power and or ground. Get a schematic and trace every wire in the charging and primary ignition circuit. I would start under the hood first because it is easier. If nothing found, time to dig under the dash. And check out the bulkhead connector too. One circuit may have overheated and melted the connector and also fused with one of the neighboring circuits.
Joined: Sat Sep 23 2006, 04:30AM
Location: Sharpsburg, GA
Posts: 924
The regulator determines the voltage.Most all alternators are capable of making 17 or 18 volts unregulated. Your regulator sees voltage on the dark blue wire, and regulates it by turning power to the alt coil on and off on the white wire. Try measuring the voltage right at the blue wire on the regulator. I suspect that the risistance on that wire is too high and the voltage is lower at the regulator.
Joined: Mon Oct 10 2005, 10:45PM
Location: Lansing MI
Posts: 513
'73 has the flat regulator with the triangle plug connector, right?
The dark blue wire feeding into the regulator, should be pretty close to the same voltage as the battery. This is what tells the regulator how much output needs to come from the alt.
With the ignition on, but the motor not running, compare the voltage at the battery, and at that blue wire in the triangle plug.
I suspect that the blue wire will be significantly lower (possibly no voltage at all)
If this is the case, then trace that wire back, checking the voltages until you find the drop.