when will it stop?

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Jun 23, 2006 | 08:53 AM

#16

fl1a

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Also, the alternators' case is ground. Sorry about that.

Jun 25, 2006 | 11:06 AM

#17

DRanchero

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From: KS

Thanks for your help. After rewiring everything, I got it to charge. Hopefully the voltage regulator will last though. Thanks for everyone's help!

Jul 18, 2006 | 10:37 AM

#18

DRanchero

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From: KS

Alright, now everything has been working fine, but I have noticed that my voltmeter gauge still stays right below or at 12 volts when the motor is running. However, I keep checking the battery, and it shows 14.1 volts! It didn't bother me until last night, when I turned my headlights on; they worked for a minute, and then they went out. Could this be a faulty voltage regulator? Because if Im still only getting 12 volts to the dash, then maybe it only sends 12 volts to the headlights? Let me know what any of you think.
Thanks

Jul 18, 2006 | 01:00 PM

#19

fl1a

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That sounds like a bad regulator. You should get one rated for the alternators' amp
rating. Be sure to keep the battery disconnected until you get it all installed. Your
battery should be at 13.8v nominally.

Jul 18, 2006 | 06:04 PM

#20

DRanchero

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From: KS

Well, I replaced the regulator and it says it was a 100 amp. The headlights seem to stay on, but ill wait until tonight to drive around and see what happens. However, the voltmeter still doesn't show right, and now it looks like it possibly went lower. As of now, I had the gauge hooked to the same hot wire from the old instrument cluster plug-in (however, all of the 6 gauges are using power from it). Should I try to find another source? or should I plug it directly to the alternator somewhere or battery?

Jul 18, 2006 | 06:27 PM

#21

fl1a

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You might want to try another source, the battery would be more reliable, if you can
get to it easily. What does the meter indicate, as opposed to a multimeter reading?

Jul 18, 2006 | 08:08 PM

#22

DRanchero

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From: KS

Well, with a multimeter, the battery reads 12.8 sitting, and 14.1 charging. Inside, the voltmeter shows 11.9 sitting, and pretty much the same while the car is running...maybe even a little lower. I will have to take the multimeter to the hot wire at the gauges to see what it is exactly. I guess the gauge could be bad from the factory. If I wire it to the battery, would it possibly drain it over a long time? I may try to wire it in with the MSD ignition.