When my truck is running every thing surges.
(dash lights, tach light, headlights) but wont do it when truck is not running.

Is that my voltage regulator causing the problem?

do i need a new one?
how much for a new one?

I also took the original tape player out of my truck
There only 3 wires (other than spk) were on the back of it orange white and black

How am i going to put a new cd player in my truck with only those 3 wires?

 

Well, you should probly look into getting a test light or something like it. See what wire is battery is hot all the time, probly orange, Which one is ignition only goes hot when the key is turned on or accy. The black is probly ground. Can't say what the whit is.
Good luck bro.

 

Nothing a quick glance at a wiring diagram for your 78 won't cure. Like SouthP said, its just a matter of determining which wire does what. There will be a couple of additional wires out the back of a new stereo/CD player. If you aren't going to use them, trim off the excess wire, and make sure you cover the bare tip of the wire to prevent any accidental contact with the frame.

One thing you CAN do if you are ambitious enough, some new (aftermarket) stereos have a lead marked "ILL." Its an "illumination" contact. This allows you to connect the backlight lamps in the new stereo to the dashboard lamp circuit which will allow the stereo lamps to dim with the rest of the dashboard lamps if you want. You will just have to tie that lead into the dashboard illumination circuit (positive side of the circuit from the headlamp switch). Again, a simple task with a good wiring diagram from a service manual.

 

First, voltage reg. is the most likely culprit. Make certain that all your alternator connections are good and tight while you are at it and the chassis ground (to the enigine block and/or frame).

Nothing a quick glance at a wiring diagram for your 78 won't cure for quick answers to circuit and wiring locations for any electrical issues.

As to the stereo/CD player issue, like SouthP said, its just a matter of determining which wire does what. There will be a couple of additional wires out the back of a new stereo/CD player. If you aren't going to use them, trim off the excess wire, and make sure you cover the bare tip of the wire to prevent any accidental contact with the frame. (This is of particular importance with things like the blue lead for power antennas and such that send voltage down that wire at intermittant intervals).

One thing you CAN do if you are ambitious enough, some new (aftermarket) stereos have a lead marked "ILL." Its an "illumination" contact. This allows you to connect the backlight lamps in the new stereo to the dashboard lamp circuit which will allow the stereo lamps to dim with the rest of the dashboard lamps if you want. You will just have to tie that lead into the dashboard illumination circuit (positive side of the circuit from the headlamp switch). Again, a simple task with a good wiring diagram from a service manual.

 

thanks for the replies guys that explains alot tonight i will check my alt connections and if it still does it ill call autozone about a voltage regulator i wasnt exactly sure about the wiring for a newer cd player because i thought they had some kind of turn on lead for the cd player but i i guess i dont need that. now the hard part will be building some kind of support to keep the cd player in the dash