2 weird electrical problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1969K10 · 11-24-2004, 09:30 AM

Looking for ideas here, my 1st problem (truck related) is my battery terminals seam to corrode over every 2-3 months. I've never had anything like this on my '72 C10 or previous vehicles. It used to happen about once a month until I bought some battery goo from the parts store that I smeared onto the battery cables ends and contacts. Any ideas to the cause?

2nd - when I start the beast and turn the lights on, everything is real dim until I hit about 2800 RPM, and then things seam to be OK.

Any ideas on this?

Any chance these are related?

djracer · 11-24-2004, 10:24 AM

I would replace the battery with an optima! The battery you have may be wicking through the terminal. You might take a multi meter and check the voltage at the battery and see if your regulator may be sticking!

lngbed71 · 11-24-2004, 10:44 AM

Voltage regulator??

silvertonguedevil · 11-24-2004, 10:46 AM

The headlight dimming issue sounds familiar....
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa....php3?t=128794

1969K10 · 11-24-2004, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the inputs, I hadn't thought about the voltage regulator.

Update on problem #2, after I hit whatever RPM that makes things OK, my lights and stuff don't dim again even at idle, until I shut it off, and start it back up...

4x4Poet · 11-28-2004, 12:53 PM

While you obviously have undiagnosed electrical problems, those little felt donuts that come soaked in something that fights battery corrosion work well to reduce corrosion at the terminals. Batt terminal corrosion usually starts from the bottom up.

Longhorn Man · 11-28-2004, 12:58 PM

1969K10, do you happen to have one of those dern one wire alt hooked up in there? This is a classic draw back to the one wire set up.

1969K10 · 11-29-2004, 09:38 AM

Longhorn: I got thinking about the alternator this weekend while driving back and forth to the family dinner thing... Yes I am running a newer alternator out of a '79 Camaro (internal volt regulator), AND running thru the stock regulator mounted on the firewall.

So are you thinking that is causing my problems? I like the single wire alt., I need to look this week(end) to see what is involved in bypassing the external regulator...

Longhorn Man · 11-29-2004, 10:07 PM

Well, you need to redo your harness. There is no reason to regulate it twice. This is probably your problem.
I was asking about a one wire alt becouse with them you have to rev the engine to get it to start working. (one wire, not later GM 3 wire)

Hooter · 11-29-2004, 11:25 PM

its very easy to bypass the external regulator, there are 4 terminals on it, this what you do, connect the first terminal to the third, and the second terminal to the fourth

1969K10 · 11-30-2004, 09:11 AM

Longhorn - yes, it is a single wire alternator. Didn't realize they required a certain RPM to get working.

Hooter - thanks for the how-to. Being that simple, I might get to it this evening...

11-24-2004, 09:30 AM	#1
1969K10 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Clarks Hill, Indiana Posts: 733	2 weird electrical problems Looking for ideas here, my 1st problem (truck related) is my battery terminals seam to corrode over every 2-3 months. I've never had anything like this on my '72 C10 or previous vehicles. It used to happen about once a month until I bought some battery goo from the parts store that I smeared onto the battery cables ends and contacts. Any ideas to the cause? 2nd - when I start the beast and turn the lights on, everything is real dim until I hit about 2800 RPM, and then things seam to be OK. Any ideas on this? Any chance these are related?

11-24-2004, 10:44 AM	#3
lngbed71 Nothing fits but the oil Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gaston, Indiana Posts: 424	Voltage regulator?? __________________ Land of the free Because of the brave

11-24-2004, 10:46 AM	#4
silvertonguedevil Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Seaside, Oregon Posts: 1,789	The headlight dimming issue sounds familiar.... http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa....php3?t=128794 __________________ -Greg My Chevy trucks, past and present: 1962 C10 SB Fleetside 1964 C10 LB Fleetside BBW 1966 C10 SB Fleetside 1966 C10 SB Fleetside BBW 1968 C10 SB Fleetside 1971 C10 LB Fleetside 1971 C10 SB Fleetside 1972 C10 SB Fleetside Cheyenne 1972 C10 SB Fleetside Cheyenne Super 1972 C10 LB Fleetside Cheyenne Super 1974 C20 Cheyenne 1979 K5 Blazer Cheyenne 1982 K10 SB Fleetside Custom Deluxe 1982 K10 SB Fleetside Scottsdale 1986 C10 SB Fleetside Silverado 2008 Silverado 1500 4x4

11-28-2004, 12:53 PM	#6
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	While you obviously have undiagnosed electrical problems, those little felt donuts that come soaked in something that fights battery corrosion work well to reduce corrosion at the terminals. Batt terminal corrosion usually starts from the bottom up. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup.

11-29-2004, 11:25 PM	#10
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	its very easy to bypass the external regulator, there are 4 terminals on it, this what you do, connect the first terminal to the third, and the second terminal to the fourth __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life

11-24-2004, 10:24 AM	#2
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	I would replace the battery with an optima! The battery you have may be wicking through the terminal. You might take a multi meter and check the voltage at the battery and see if your regulator may be sticking! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!

11-24-2004, 01:23 PM	#5
1969K10 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Clarks Hill, Indiana Posts: 733	Thanks for the inputs, I hadn't thought about the voltage regulator. Update on problem #2, after I hit whatever RPM that makes things OK, my lights and stuff don't dim again even at idle, until I shut it off, and start it back up...

11-28-2004, 12:58 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	1969K10, do you happen to have one of those dern one wire alt hooked up in there? This is a classic draw back to the one wire set up.

11-29-2004, 09:38 AM	#8
1969K10 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Clarks Hill, Indiana Posts: 733	Longhorn: I got thinking about the alternator this weekend while driving back and forth to the family dinner thing... Yes I am running a newer alternator out of a '79 Camaro (internal volt regulator), AND running thru the stock regulator mounted on the firewall. So are you thinking that is causing my problems? I like the single wire alt., I need to look this week(end) to see what is involved in bypassing the external regulator...

11-29-2004, 10:07 PM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Well, you need to redo your harness. There is no reason to regulate it twice. This is probably your problem. I was asking about a one wire alt becouse with them you have to rev the engine to get it to start working. (one wire, not later GM 3 wire)

11-30-2004, 09:11 AM	#11
1969K10 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Clarks Hill, Indiana Posts: 733	Longhorn - yes, it is a single wire alternator. Didn't realize they required a certain RPM to get working. Hooter - thanks for the how-to. Being that simple, I might get to it this evening... __________________ 1969 K10 - V8, 465, 205, 12 bolt, D44 2002-current 1969 K20 - V8, 465, 221, Eaton, D44 2012-current Nothin' but drums on all 4 corners! past horses in the stable 72 C10-short step (97-02), 68 C10-long fleet (06-12)



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