1965 F100 240

my alt indicator light came on a few days ago. I took it to autozone to check it out. They said the battery was good, and that the alternator wasn't putting out enough juice.

I bought a new alternator from them.

I put it in. The wiring was a little different, but I'm pretty sure I got it hooked up right.

Took it to autozone with the new one on. Guy said that the battery checked out at 71% (it was at 100% two days before). Said the alternator wasn't doing anything.

I bought the voltage regulator from them.

QUESTION:

The new voltage regulator is "electric" and I'm pretty sure the old one was the original, if not it was the original type.

Is the general consensus that this is ok?? What differences will the system experience?

After I put the new one on, when I turn the key on, the "alt light" is very dim. When I start the truck, and it's running, the light is off now.

I took it to Advance Auto to see what they said about it now. He checked it out and said the alternator was working.

He said it was weird that the alternator appears to be pumping more juice without load, than with.

I'm wondering if anyone has an opinion about the replacement voltage regulator and if this all sounds normal or ok...

Thanks.

 

You might consider returning all of it and going with a GM style one - wire alternator...no voltage regulator needed. It's internally regulated. Not a difficult addition. There's an article on making this change.

 

I concur the one wire Alternator is a slam dunk!

 

i was looking over older post and this was one of the problems.
he changes everything that you did and it can down to the voltage regulator, and after it was changed everything worked just fine. i would say check your grounds and all the connections and then go for the cheaper fix. volt regulator then alt.
remember, clean what you can then test everything you can before you shell out cash if you dont need to.

 

In 1982, Ford replaced the original type of alternator regulator with a 'solid state' electronic type (E2PZ-10316-A-later replaced by FOPZ-10316-A ~ Motorcraft GR-540-B).

This regulator has a nearly flat aluminum cover with MOTORCRAFT marked on it. The alternator wiring harness is the same with/without this type of regulator.

Dunno about the GM 1 wire alternator, but the Ford 1 wire alternator has a replaceable regulator bolted on to it.

 

Thanks everybody. I probably should have tested the regulator first, but I didn't, I just bought the alternator and put it in. In the end, I think it was the regulator, which looked so old it could have been the original.

I have put in the new electronic type one, and it is running great. I am still a little worried about it letting too many volts get back to the battery, but I guess I'll just hope for the best...

for $60, I'm ok with the results.

 

Just for reference, a running vehicle will run about 14.5V when charging, If no more than that I wouldn't be concerned.

 

I was about to say regulator and if so replace it with a good brand like Motorcraft which is now in all my vehicles. I just drilled out the rivets to remove the flat top and put a correct top on before putting in new rivets. So new electronic but no way for you to tell.

 

A good idea is that when you are out in yards picking over cars and trucks...its pretty hard to go wrong with having and extra or two of voltage regulators or starter relays....small, cheap(at wrecking yards) and take up little space..since it sounds like the voltage regulator was bad...did you keep it?? reason I ask is I believe the originals have screwed on covers vs riveted...


- cs65

 

It has a screw on cover.

I just bought the cheap one ($15) at autozone. So far so good. When I get a real job, I'll buy good stuff....ha.