My voltage meter on the dash is just bouncing like crazy going from 8 to 18 amps every second!!! I replaced the serpentine belt a few months ago and it stopped doing that for about a month and then it started up again worse than ever!!

Is it a Voltage regulator problem?? Can I replace it with the alternator still in the van?? (voltage regulator is behind alternator)

Serpentine belt seems fine to me..

HELP it is driving me CRAZY!!

1992 Aerostar 3.0 liter automatic. ERROR kilometers and still going!!

 

Damm... I had typed a long reply to your problem and I lost it!

I had a bad rectifier, it produced "dirty DC" with a AC ripple caused ny charge light to flicker, also my volt gauge jumped all over the place, though it was bad regulator, but replaced whole alternator after the 2 days it toko me to get the old one out (frozen bolt) , volt gauge still crazy after replacement...

Turned out to be a failing battery, used jumper cables to bypass and hook up van to battery in other vehicle to isolate the problem.

Maybe try and bypass battery first and hook up battery wires from the van to battery in other car with jumper cables, you may be pleasantly surprised? :? (and hopefully not need service alternator)

Don't bother trying to tear regulator apart mounted in van, should you suceed to do so (after investing more time and knuckles than for alternator replacement) you'll discover that it will spill it's springs, brushes & guts all over the place and you will have to take it out anyway. Also new regulator costs close enough to reman alternator...

I brought the old one to autozone for core credit and got a reman duralast 80amp for ~69$ pretty happy so far, no probs! napa also has a similar deal

Good luck! let us know of your results!

 

I forgot to mention...

When I accelerate, the gauge stops jumping for a few seconds, then it starts up again, even if I am traveling at 80-100 kilometers an hour.

Thanks Aerorat, for the advice.. I will try this ASAP..