Strange Charging problem
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New User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Joplin Missouri
Strange Charging problem
On My 76 Ford, I have a strange problem with my charging system.
sometimes when I start the truck it shows a proper 14.5 v. charge. I can then turn it off and start it again and get no charge. It goes back and forth each time I start it.
Sometimes while driving it will suddenly stop charging and if I dont notice
my headlights go dim and I get stranded quickly if I am going for a long drive. (I temporarily installed an after market voltage meter to double check that is was not just my gauge.)
I have replaced the alternator, battery, cables, and voltage regulator. And since then had all of them re-tested with nothing found. I have checked grounds and wires but nothing seems out of place.
any Ideas??
sometimes when I start the truck it shows a proper 14.5 v. charge. I can then turn it off and start it again and get no charge. It goes back and forth each time I start it.
Sometimes while driving it will suddenly stop charging and if I dont notice
my headlights go dim and I get stranded quickly if I am going for a long drive. (I temporarily installed an after market voltage meter to double check that is was not just my gauge.)
I have replaced the alternator, battery, cables, and voltage regulator. And since then had all of them re-tested with nothing found. I have checked grounds and wires but nothing seems out of place.
any Ideas??
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 336
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From: Dumas, Texas
jcruzan,
Have your starter checked. Sounds like to me you have a problem inside the starter, maybe a burned wire on the armature. Or maybe the starter Bendix is just dirty. Something is drawing a lot of current.
Hope this helps.
Have your starter checked. Sounds like to me you have a problem inside the starter, maybe a burned wire on the armature. Or maybe the starter Bendix is just dirty. Something is drawing a lot of current.
Hope this helps.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Joplin Missouri
Thanks for the suggestion but I tried that one too.
I forgot to mention that if it suddenly stops charging while I am driving I can put it in neutral, turn off the igntion and while coasting then restart the truck and it will start charging again...
I notice there is a wire from the charging system that goes to the automatic choke. It is very loose. What does this wire do and could it be a problem for me? I have tried to tighten it but I still have the same problems.
I forgot to mention that if it suddenly stops charging while I am driving I can put it in neutral, turn off the igntion and while coasting then restart the truck and it will start charging again...
I notice there is a wire from the charging system that goes to the automatic choke. It is very loose. What does this wire do and could it be a problem for me? I have tried to tighten it but I still have the same problems.
Last edited by jcruzan; Nov 24, 2004 at 01:56 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Does your truck have a "alt" light in the dash? If so, there could be a problem with this part of the circuit. It should come on when you lose your charging system. If it's not coming on, it may be the problem.
This part of the circuit starts from the keyswitch. It runs from the keyswitch to one side of the "alt" light. A wire leaves the other side of the light, and goes out to the "I" terminal on the regulator. When you turn the keyswitch, this sends power through the light, which cuts it on till the engine fires up. And the connection from the light to the "I" terminal tells the regulator to bring the charging system online. If you lose part of this circuit, the charging system will turn off.
The above is true only if you have the dash light. It is wired a little differently if you have a ammeter in the dash.
This part of the circuit starts from the keyswitch. It runs from the keyswitch to one side of the "alt" light. A wire leaves the other side of the light, and goes out to the "I" terminal on the regulator. When you turn the keyswitch, this sends power through the light, which cuts it on till the engine fires up. And the connection from the light to the "I" terminal tells the regulator to bring the charging system online. If you lose part of this circuit, the charging system will turn off.
The above is true only if you have the dash light. It is wired a little differently if you have a ammeter in the dash.
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New User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Joplin Missouri
<!--StartFragment -->When I got this truck it had no dash, I have built a custom dash for it. However I do think it had an alt. light originally. I checked this wire and it is there and it is connected but it looks like it may be corroded where it passes through the fire wall connector. I think this may be my problem. Thanks a lot for your help I would have never found it with out your suggestion!!
