Alternator question
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Douglasville, GA
Alternator question
So as of Sunday afternoon, the alternator light is staying on in the 1966. I put a meter on the battery while running and it read a solid 14.15 volts. Is there a chance there is something wrong in the wiring somewhere keeping the light on on the dash? Kinda afraid to take off too far till I dig deeper.
Thanks in advance guys!
1966 F100 Custom Cab
352 FE
Thanks in advance guys!
1966 F100 Custom Cab
352 FE
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Check the fan belt, it may be loose. Alternator regulator has points. Look on its cover, see any dents?
Points got stuck, people rapped on the cover with their knuckles, screw drivers handles to unstick those fracatta points.
Points got stuck, people rapped on the cover with their knuckles, screw drivers handles to unstick those fracatta points.
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From: colbert washington
Agree with Bill sounds like stuck points in the regulator. The one in my 65 sticks a bit with a few quick revs it lets go. I probably should take the cover off and blow it out good it had been sitting on the shelf in my garage for over 20 years.
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Junior User
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From: Douglasville, GA
Haha! Well, I haven't tapped on anything yet, but I will try that this weekend. I guess so long as the gauge stays on the + side everything should be fine eh?
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Junior User
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From: Douglasville, GA
Well I drove it to work and back today, about 75 miles round trip and no problem. The light stayed on the whole time but the gauge never dropped to the negative said. Guess I will just consider it decoration! Haha.
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Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Light on, battery could be discharging. What's gonna happen when you're 35 miles from home and the battery is as dead as Julius Caesar?
If truck has a warning light, it doesn't have a ammeter gauge unless you added one.
If truck has a warning light, it doesn't have a ammeter gauge unless you added one.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Douglasville, GA
I fully agree Bill, there should be a locatable problem if the light is on. As for the dash layout, It does of a amp gauge. Whether it is original or not I do not know, but my configuration is like several other I have seen photos of. To the left of the speedo are the small gauges for current draw and fuel, to the right ar oil pressure and temperature. It also has the ALT and OIL warning lights
Like I said also, even with the ALT light lit, the ammeter reads on the + side and my voltmeter at the battery is reading 14.15 to 14.17 volts so I do not see how it could be discharging.
When I drove it Friday, the light went out for just a couple seconds as I pulled away from the house, then came right back on and stayed on the entire 70 mile trip.
James,
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problem may be with the warning circuit, and not the alternator itself.
if you're running the stock charging setup, i think the wire that activates the warning lamp goes from the key switch, to the warning bulb, through the firewall to the "I" terminal on the external voltage regulator.
you may want to check those connections.
if you're running the stock charging setup, i think the wire that activates the warning lamp goes from the key switch, to the warning bulb, through the firewall to the "I" terminal on the external voltage regulator.
you may want to check those connections.
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