generator troubleshooting
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 317
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From: Sabin, Mn
generator troubleshooting
hey guys, I am having problems with my truck. i have a 1964 ford f100 with the 292 in it. now. I am having problems with the battery keeping charge and its been tested good. I have to jump start the truck to get it to start and the gen light goes out but when i let it run and then shut it off, the battery is dead. almost like the gen isnt charging. and I have checked the cables an they are good an clean and tightened down? any help? these trucks, once the ignition switch is in the off, ther is no power to anything right? no accessory power anywhere right? could my points be draining the battery? the interior light is off. lights are off? can anyone give me some ideas?
Last edited by 64fordf100292; Jun 18, 2007 at 12:55 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,222
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From: East Central Florida
64 Ford'
Disconnect the ground cable from the battery and put a VOM in the circuit to see if you have a key Off drain of voltage. If you don't have a VOM you might get away by using a test light, but VOM will give you a reading in Volts or Ohms that has a value. If there is a current drainage shown start looking until you find it.
If not check your Generator belt for proper adjustment, check your Voltage regulator for correct operating parameters and check the output capacity from your Generator, or have Autozone check Generator & Voltage Regulator with their "free testing deal".
Personally if it was mine and if I had no Key Off Drain situation, I'd upgrade to an Alternator and leave that 20th century technology where it belongs, back in the 20th Century. They make 1 wire Alternators with integral Voltage regulation that solve all of those old Dynamo & Generator problems.
FBp
Disconnect the ground cable from the battery and put a VOM in the circuit to see if you have a key Off drain of voltage. If you don't have a VOM you might get away by using a test light, but VOM will give you a reading in Volts or Ohms that has a value. If there is a current drainage shown start looking until you find it.
If not check your Generator belt for proper adjustment, check your Voltage regulator for correct operating parameters and check the output capacity from your Generator, or have Autozone check Generator & Voltage Regulator with their "free testing deal".
Personally if it was mine and if I had no Key Off Drain situation, I'd upgrade to an Alternator and leave that 20th century technology where it belongs, back in the 20th Century. They make 1 wire Alternators with integral Voltage regulation that solve all of those old Dynamo & Generator problems.
FBp
Last edited by FordBoypete; Jun 18, 2007 at 02:24 PM.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 317
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From: Sabin, Mn
update
well guys, after work this morning, I went an borrowed a voltage tester an tested the battery unhooked from truck an it had at least 6 volts in it. then I took my test light, with the ground discoonected from the battery, to the groun d cable and then to the battery terminal(negative) and the light didnt light up so i did the same with the voltage tester and nothing, so i am guessing i dont have a short anywheres. then i started the truck up and tested at the battery and i was getting at least 12 volts( the volt gauge ha 6,12,24,36 and so on on it) with it running so i dont think the gen isnt charging. so I took the battery out and took it to one of those battery places to have it tested. they siad they'd have to charge it first. did i miss any diagnostics? I also took the negative off the battery while it was running and it didnt die.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,222
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From: East Central Florida
Idon't think you missed anything, but. . . . . if I recollect correctly, You should have 12V to 13.5V on a fresh battery. When charging it should be getting 12.8V~ 13.2V.
It's been a while, but I thing that's right.
FBp
It's been a while, but I thing that's right.
FBp
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,062
Likes: 35
From: Central Oregon
Did you change the voltage regulator? If you did it will need to be polarized to get it to work. If you did not change it, and the generator is working, you may want to change it out. With the engine running try removing the neg. cable, DO NOT let it touch anything, and see if the engine stays running. If it does, the generator is producing power, but you may want to pull it and have it tested.
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