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#1 |
Sisyphus was my mentor!
![]() Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA
Posts: 984
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Electrical Problems @ 17.5 VOLTS!? regulator woes?
I'm trying to install an electrical Autometer temp gauge in my truck. It was used but I wired it all up & no go - I thought it was bad. I sent it back to atometer & they replaced it n/c. I installed the new one & it moved a bit & stopped. I have it protected by a 3amp fuse but I tested the voltage & the meter read 17.58 volts when the engine was running! Whats going on here? has my voltage regulator gone south? Is the regulator that box on the inside core support? What should I be doing/looking for? I'd like to get this figured out before I have to pay Autometer to fix this gauge... Thanx for your advice!
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passthebuck ![]() #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car |
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#2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Muskegon,MI,USA
Posts: 6,026
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That is a very high voltage reading. It should be around 14.5 volts at the battery. I would check three things to start with.
-Make sure the regulator on the radiator support is properly grounded -Verify reading with another meter, just to make sure -If reading is still high, adjust or replace regulator An option is to replace the alternator with an internal regulator style alternator. Jim |
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#3 |
Sisyphus was my mentor!
![]() Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA
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ttt
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passthebuck ![]() #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car |
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#4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: daytonabeach
Posts: 22,956
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give the regulator a sharp rap on the side with a small hammer alot of times the contacts are stuck and doing this will free them up if it goes back to normal 12-14volts your set but if it happens again replace the reg
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71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Willits Ca
Posts: 261
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I had a regulator go out on a 67 Camaro. It was before dawn I turned on the headlights and headed down the road. All of a sudden the lights got brighter and brighter the faster I went, I could really see well. Then total darkness, burned out both headlights. Weird
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#6 |
Sisyphus was my mentor!
![]() Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA
Posts: 984
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ttt
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passthebuck ![]() #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car |
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#7 |
Sisyphus was my mentor!
![]() Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA
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ok - so I changed the voltage regulator & I'm getting 16.1 volts at the battery. Is that too much still? It droped like a volt & a half from 17.58! What is too much? Should I worry about it?
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passthebuck ![]() #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car |
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#8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Delta,Pa
Posts: 14,950
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thats still too high it shouldnt be any higher than 14.5 your going to cook your electrical system along with a good change of having the battery boil and explode
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Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member. |
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#9 |
Sisyphus was my mentor!
![]() Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA
Posts: 984
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so what is my next step?
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passthebuck ![]() #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Clanton, AL
Posts: 1,253
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It sounds like you do not have a decent multimeter & are relying upon dash gauges for accurate voltage readings when troubleshooting.
I would think that the first thing to do would be to go to most anywhere & buy a decent multimeter. Auto parts stores should have them. Radio Shack always has good ones for a somewhat fair price. They will also be able to help you pick a good one & give you a quick how-to. John
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#11 |
Sisyphus was my mentor!
![]() Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA
Posts: 984
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But I am using a multimeter.....
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passthebuck ![]() #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Willits Ca
Posts: 261
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16 volt is high, I have seen a charging system run that high for a short time with a very low battery. Put a full charge on the battery with a charger. Then test the volts with your tester at the battery with the truck running. If it is still 16v there is a problem.
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 269
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I believe 14.5 should be measured at the alternator, and 13.8 should be measured at the battery while charging. The over charging can boil the acid out of the battery and cause serious corrosion in the engine compartment.
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#14 |
Led Sled! Discs R 4 ME!
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Toms River, NJ, USA (Transplanted Hoosier)
Posts: 7,327
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If your alt is still pushing 16V then your battery should be charged if not overcharged.
Whats the volts at the battery with the engine off? If its under 12 then you probably have a dead cell in the battery. This is an odd one. The regulator should have corrected the problem. I have also seen new regulators that were bad. Do you know any one with a known good regulator you can try to rule out that possibility? When my regulator went in my 71 it pegged my amp meter, by the time I got it in the driveway the battery was swollen and oozing out acid. That was a close one ![]() Denny |
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#15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: daytonabeach
Posts: 22,956
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i'd try a different multi-meter,or at least compare the one you're using to a different one. some of the less expensive ones are not at all accurate
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71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Boise ID
Posts: 609
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Put the meter across the Battery with the engine shutdown or you can put the meter on some other truck/car and see what it reads you could also go to A local autoparts store and They will have A multimeter they can put on your system to confirm the integrity of your meter. I had A bad meter that read approx 18V at my bat. It was A craftsman they replaced the meter. Instead of screwing around with the external regulator $. Buy A internally regulated alternator easy install and be done with it.
Gary
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"72" Red CORVETTE 4-speed 350 "70" Chevy Short Bed early stages of resto. Edel 600 cfm carb Weiand Stealth Intake HEI shorty Headers 4/2 Drop 295 50R 15 TOYO on 10 inch wide corvette rally rims at all 4 corners. "CHEVY RULES" ![]() Last edited by 70short; 04-28-2004 at 03:49 PM. |
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#17 |
Sisyphus was my mentor!
![]() Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA
Posts: 984
|
I'm thinking that i'll change to an internally regulated alternator soon, I just wanted to make sure I'm fixing the problem & not just stabbing blindly. I like MAD electrical's kit too. I THINK that since I just changed the regulator & I'm still putting out too many volts that my ground somewhere is bad. I'm going to check it tomorow. I'll kepp ya posted
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passthebuck ![]() #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car |
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#18 |
Sisyphus was my mentor!
![]() Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA
Posts: 984
|
it was a bad ground too. Now i'm at 14.3V. thanx to all for your help.
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passthebuck ![]() #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car |
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