Question about a voltage regulator ...

[Jeepers Creepers]

Hey y'all,
Check this out. Update on the electrical issue and it's a real head-scratcher.

Here's the current sitchiation. If I turn my headlights on, they stay on for about three to five seconds, then they start flickering and the dash lights flicker too. The brake lights don't come on either, but that may be a second problem, and the taillights don't come on when you turn on the headlights. They did work before all this nonsense. The turn signals do work, but I did notice once that the voltage meter was jumping when I use them, however, it hasn't done that again. The voltage meter only shows 8, but when you press the brake you can see it dip slightly.

Here's what I've done so far:
Checked, tightened, and cleaned the grounds that I could find. They appear to be grounded.
Put in a new taillight because one had some faulty wiring at the bulb.
Cut out a trailer wiring harness that I thought was the culprit and rewired the taillights correctly.
Disconnected the headlights from the dimmer switch. The dimmer switch sticks a bit, so I thought it could be the problem.
Had the alternator tested, came back good. The alternator does sometimes make a whirring sound though. The battery tested on the weak side but not bad and the truck always cranks first try.

So I'm currently leaning toward the voltage regulator. But would a faulty reg cause these specific sorts of problems. Could it be there's a ground I've missed? Could the alternator be the issue even though it passed? And why would the brakelights/taillights not light up at all but turn signals work?

I forgot to mention that sometimes, every once in a while, EVERYTHING WORKS PERFECTLY. But there's no way of knowing if it's going to be a good day or a bad day.

[Pappyx3!]

Sounds like you have multiple problems... From reading your post I would suggest you get a digital volt meter and start testing each one in the order of importance.
Battery
Charging system
Lights
Turn/ brake lights

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by Pappyx3!

Sounds like you have multiple problems... From reading your post I would suggest you get a digital volt meter and start testing each one in the order of importance.
Battery
Charging system
Lights
Turn/ brake lights

Multiple problems! There's good news! I have a digital volt meter I'm just an idiot when it comes to using it. I was hoping it would be something simple, like replacing the voltage regulator. Oh well, it's the weekend. Might as well learn something.

[Pappyx3!]

Start with checking the voltage on the battery. Write the readings down so you can accurately bring tell us what they seem.
Do you have a load tester to test battery?

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by Pappyx3!

Start with checking the voltage on the battery. Write the readings down so you can accurately bring tell us what they seem.
Do you have a load tester to test battery?

I don't have a load tester, but I'll check it out best I can and get back to you. My reasoning behind it not being the battery is that the truck always cranks without issue.

[Pappyx3!]

Originally Posted by Jeepers Creepers

I don't have a load tester, but I'll check it out best I can and get back to you. My reasoning behind it not being the battery is that the truck always cranks without issue.

You are probably right about the battery being fine. But we need a baseline reading at the battery so we know the potential voltage we can look for elsewhere.

If your not strong in electrical, don't fret it, willing to help if you need it.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by Pappyx3!

You are probably right about the battery being fine. But we need a baseline reading at the battery so we know the potential voltage we can look for elsewhere.

If your not strong in electrical, don't fret it, willing to help if you need it.

Thanks for that. My main area of expertise is unbolting things and then bolting them on again. I'm also good at turning minor problems into major problems (like earlier when I went to clean out the P-trap in the bathroom sink and broke the pipe going into the wall).

[vince1]

With that flickering can you hear anything like fizzling in the headlight switch or somewhere else? Re set the fuses? Good contact to the fuse box? Re done the connections at the horn relay?

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by vince1

With that flickering can you hear anything like fizzling in the headlight switch or somewhere else? Re set the fuses? Good contact to the fuse box? Re done the connections at the horn relay?

No fizzing sounds and I replaced all the fuses. The fuse box looks pretty sad though, it could be the culprit.

[The Rocknrod]

I once wired an old truck and used an internal regulating alternator with a voltage regulator in the system. Didnt work out so well for me.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

I once wired an old truck and used an internal regulating alternator with a voltage regulator in the system. Didnt work out so well for me.

I was thinking about this too. Something in this set-up doesn't seem right.

[Jeepers Creepers]

So today was one of those days where ALMOST everything worked (go figure). The only thing that didn't function was the right turn signal, but only if the headlights were on. If the headlights were off, the right signal worked fine.

Here are some pictures. The 12.22 reading is at the battery with the truck idling. With the headlights on, it drops to around 12.04. The voltage gauge in the cab is bottomed out below 8 though.

[Pappyx3!]

So.... Here's what I see based on your pics and posts.

1- you need to charge your battery... Fully charged battery will read 12.6 or slightly higher.

2- your alternator is not charging. It should be putting out 13-14 volts with engine running.

3- give me a closer picture of the back of your alternator and the wires that are plugged into it. Looks like someone has put a 10 or 12SI internally regulated alt on it. More on this after the I see the pics...

4- gauge inside is not reading correct. Add it to the list of things to look at. No need to reference it until time to work on that issue.

Most important, you battery/charging system is not functioning as it should be... Your other electrical "gremlins" with the lights and stuff may go away once you deal with the battery/charging system.

Next steps:
Charge the battery back to full charge. If you don't have a charger most of the local parts places will charge them for free. Have them load test it and give you the printout if possible.

Based on the pics of the alternator, we can talk about the options to get it charging again.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by Pappyx3!

So.... Here's what I see based on your pics and posts.

1- you need to charge your battery... Fully charged battery will read 12.6 or slightly higher.

2- your alternator is not charging. It should be putting out 13-14 volts with engine running.

3- give me a closer picture of the back of your alternator and the wires that are plugged into it. Looks like someone has put a 10 or 12SI internally regulated alt on it. More on this after the I see the pics...

4- gauge inside is not reading correct. Add it to the list of things to look at. No need to reference it until time to work on that issue.

Most important, you battery/charging system is not functioning as it should be... Your other electrical "gremlins" with the lights and stuff may go away once you deal with the battery/charging system.

Next steps:
Charge the battery back to full charge. If you don't have a charger most of the local parts places will charge them for free. Have them load test it and give you the printout if possible.

Based on the pics of the alternator, we can talk about the options to get it charging again.

Thanks for helping me out here. I'll get a picture of the alternator back tomorrow. I had the alternator tested and it was putting out 13/14 but that's also when everything was working. I think it may be intermittently going bad because sometimes it makes a whirring/whining sound while the lights are flickering. If possible, I'd like to ditch the external voltage regulator, I just don't know how much of a pain in rear it will be and I have a knack for making things worse instead of better.

[Pappyx3!]

Originally Posted by Jeepers Creepers

Thanks for helping me out here. I'll get a picture of the alternator back tomorrow. I had the alternator tested and it was putting out 13/14 but that's also when everything was working. I think it may be intermittently going bad because sometimes it makes a whirring/whining sound while the lights are flickering. If possible, I'd like to ditch the external voltage regulator, I just don't know how much of a pain in rear it will be and I have a knack for making things worse instead of better.

We can figure out what has been done and correct it. Just get me some pics so I can see what your working with

Pm me your email address I have some info to send you that will help you understand how we need to make this type alt work.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by Pappyx3!

We can figure out what has been done and correct it. Just get me some pics so I can see what your working with

Pm me your email address I have some info to send you that will help you understand how we need to make this type alt work.

PM sent. Here's the alternator.

[Pappyx3!]

Originally Posted by Jeepers Creepers

PM sent. Here's the alternator.

That is an internally regulated alt, it will not charge the way it is wired right now.

Sending you some info by email a little later.

Next steps:

1- round up a test light and will show you how to test the alt. on the truck to make sure it will charge.

2- I see the adjustment is out all the way on the alternator bracket, you need to get a shorter belt that will allow for some adjustment if needed.

3- give me a few pics of the external voltage regulator. A littl further away the the on in the previous post.

[vince1]

Looks like you guys have a lot of extra wires to sort out and remove.

Not to distract but thought I'd throw in this link. Probably wouldn't apply to you if you get it wired up correctly but as an amateur, one of these would have made it easier for me many years ago when putting one of those 10si alternators on a 1958 Case tractor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Delco-Altern...item2c7eae49e5

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by vince1

Looks like you guys have a lot of extra wires to sort out and remove.

Not to distract but thought I'd throw in this link. Probably wouldn't apply to you if you get it wired up correctly but as an amateur, one of these would have made it easier for me many years ago when putting one of those 10si alternators on a 1958 Case tractor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Delco-Altern...item2c7eae49e5

Thanks for that! 58 Case sounds like a fun ride.

[The Rocknrod]

I got to thinking about my past mistakes and looked this thread up. In a normal situation the top plug on the alternator indicates an alternator with an internal regulator. A back plug indicates a separate regulator is needed. Looking at your alt I see a GM top plug alternator.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

I got to thinking about my past mistakes and looked this thread up. In a normal situation the top plug on the alternator indicates an alternator with an internal regulator. A back plug indicates a separate regulator is needed. Looking at your alt I see a GM top plug alternator.

That's part of the problem, it's an internally regulated alternator but the external voltage regulator is wired in as well (notice only one terminal on top of the alt is hooked up). I've gotten a wealth of info on how to bypass the voltage regulator, I just haven't found the right wire yet because there are a lot of wires still in place but not actually hooked up to anything. I'm hoping to sort it out a little better this weekend.

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by Jeepers Creepers

That's part of the problem, it's an internally regulated alternator but the external voltage regulator is wired in as well (notice only one terminal on top of the alt is hooked up). I've gotten a wealth of info on how to bypass the voltage regulator, I just haven't found the right wire yet because there are a lot of wires still in place but not actually hooked up to anything. I'm hoping to sort it out a little better this weekend.

Yep just as I thought (see post #8). I did that previously to myself.
I used to think wiring was magic, then I bought a book on how to wire your car and read it front to back, it started off with bumping electrodes to the whole system wiring. Wiring is one of my favorite things to do. Now, if I could just weld (that's magic).

[Apachemike]

Bring your truck over and we'll get your alt straightened out

[Jeepers Creepers]

Originally Posted by Apachemike

Bring your truck over and we'll get your alt straightened out

Austell! Good to see another GA boy on here!