65 C10 will not turn over.

[mrdave03]

I parked the truck last week. Today I went out to start it and nada. Wouldn't do anything. I tested the battery it was reading only 7 volts so I figured 4 yrs old time to replace. New battery in still nothing. I put my booster/jumpstart unit on it and it turns over fine and starts right up. I notice the alternator gauge moves dead left to D and will not come up to charge. I'm confused because it starts right up with the charger on "jumpstart" the new battery reads just over 12 volts so it seems to be fully charged. Could I have gotten a defective battery? It is odd tho that the alternator gauge wont move to charge but why does it start by jumping. I'd think it would start with the new battery even if its not being charged IE: alternator gone bad... It also only reads 12 volts while the truck is running not 14 as it should if it were charging..so I think bad alternator for one thing..hmmm... help?

[Greshampiglet]

I'm not sure why it won't start with a new battery unless you got a bad cable, as far as volts do you still a voltage regulator, I had to chang mine, it would run but not getting enough volts to charge/ hence draining the battery

[mrdave03]

yes still has the external regulator. The cables are new as of last fall. I upgraded to heavier cables the old were to thin. I'm thinking maybe bad regulator also but wondering if it is a defective battery also... it is new fully charged and does jumpstart... odd...

[joedoh]

clean out the terminals where they touch the battery post, likely you arent getting a good connection.

[mrdave03]

Terminals are clean and tight. Cables connections still look brand new and battery is new as of today. I checked the other end of the cables they seem good. I put the charger on the battery at 20 amps for ten min then it starts fine but volt gauge stays on zero (D) not charging at all. Whenever I turn on anything electrical ( Lights, radio, ignition switch) the gauge goes from center to dead left (D) and doesnt come back up to mid point till I turn everything back off. Same as when the trucks running moves left to D and stays there...

[MikeS.]

Sounds like the regulator, try tapping it with a screwdriver handle or the like.

[mrdave03]

Tapped it lightly then rapped it a bit harder...no go.... Could it be the regulator is completely stuck? Would that make it not charge?

[Greshampiglet]

+A new regulator cost me $14.50 here in Oregon at the local battery exchange

[mrdave03]

Got it... upon tracing all the wires I found the red wire from the battery to the junction box on the horn relay had a crack in it.. replaced it the truck starts right up...I'm still going to buy a spare regulator to keep on hand as the one in it looks quite old. Or may even swap alternators to the built in reg model... something to ponder. Thanks for the feedback!

[MikeS.]

I'm glad u found it and it was an easy fix.

[VetteVet]

Here's the boards conversion by Toodtheodd It is from the Electrical FAQS link on the the top of the electrical forum. Everyone should read the links there...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=119379

Go to the top of this page and type "alternator conversions" in the search box and tick the 67 to 72 trucks button then click Google. You'll get several pages of threads on the conversions with other links for the internal regulator alternator conversions.