I need help with what I believe is a mid to late 70's voltage regulator wiring.
The voltage regulator is on a 1972 F series (F750), but according to the parts store this regulator is from the later 70's.



The white wire coming out of the S terminal was connected somewhere I think under the dash - but Im not sure, at some point it came loose, and since then the alternator will not charge the battery.

To limp it home I connected that wire to one of the terminals on the solenoid, and then the battery was charging. (I can't remember where exactly I hooked to on the solenoid). But was told not to leave the wire hooked there permanently.

It is my understanding that that wire needs to go to switched power.

Where should this wire go? In the event I cant do that - where can this wire go so that the charging system runs right?

PS since this a bus chassis the fuse boxes arent necessarily "normal" so I dont know if I can run the wire straight too the fuse box somewhere.

Thanks in Advance

 

Hi and welcome to FTE. You are correct that the white wire on the " S " terminal has to go to switched power be careful however not to splice into the wire that feeds the ignition coil. I would look at the connecter on the ignition switch for burned or damaged wiring first. You can use a test light to figure out which wires have power with the key on or off.

The regulator in the pic is a transistorized unit. Ford started using them in the mid 70's but I'm not sure when. They interchange with the older style eletromechanical regulators. Because of the interchange most parts outfits only stock the later version.

 

Thanks for the welcome and info RD, You're reply jogged my memory, that a couple years ago we had an ignition switch issue - but I can't remember what it was. I'll look there.

This thing hardly gets driven, and is parked about 90 miles from me I'm gonna try to get down there tomorrow and look at it.

I have been researching and came up with this as well. Would it be OK to do this? Do you know?

Also, any idea why it wouldn't have a wire going to the I terminal on the regulator? There is no telling how many different people have worked on this thing over the years, before I started doing what I can with it.



Thanks again

 

The diagram you posted is correct if you have an indicator light however if you have an ammeter the wiring has a couple differences. With an ammeter the I terminal is not used. Also the switched power goes to the S terminal on the regulator. The S terminal on the alternator is not used with an ammeter. The other 2 connections are the same for both systems.

 

Thanks alot for clearing that up!!

I'll let you know what I find out - maybe tomorrow or it may be next Mon or Tue, before I get a chance to look at it.

 

Welcome to FTE

Here's the answer to your question why your truck has this voltage regulator. It's a Ford service part replacement for 1963/81's.

E2PZ10316A .. Alternator Voltage Regulator ~ Electronic (Motorcraft GR540A)

Fits: 1963/64 Thunderbird / 1965/81 ALL Passenger Cars/Trucks / 1982 and later passenger cars/trucks.

E2PZ10316A replaced D4TZ10316A which replaced C3SZ10316A in 1974.

In 1982, Ford replaced the original alternator voltage regulators used 1963/81 with this electronic type.

Outside of the fact it has a short flat cover, and the cover has Motorcraft Electronic embossed on it (as original), it bolts right on all these 1963/81 vehicles and uses the existing wiring harness.

btw: The 1963 Thunderbird was the first Ford vehicle to have an alternator as standard equiment.

1965 was the first year for all the other vehicles (cars/trucks) to have an alternator as standard equipment.


EDIT: FOPZ10316A .. Alternator Regulator (Motorcraft GR540B) has replaced E2PZ10316A.

It's the same 'ol thing with new part numbers, which is typical because Ford replaces 10's of 1000's of part numbers every year!

 

ive went through 2 of these silly things so far. they go out on me and make everything pulsate. headlights, running lights, dash lights, cab light, anything that runs off electricity freakin pulsates. Thankfully they are only like 10 bucks. Bill, do you know of any that are decent quality and still available? And not the el cheapo from autozone?

 

Hey DD,
Up until a few years ago,(the last time I looked for one) Standard Motor Products made a heavy duty version of the original design. In my experience they outlast the solid state ones by a bunch.

 

C3SZ10316B .. Voltage Regulator / C3SZ10316B replaced C3SZ10316A / Obsolete / This was replaced by D4TZ10316A in 1974.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 10 = 800-543-4959.

ANTIQUE AUTO SUPPLY in Arlington TX has 1 = 817-275-2381.

No Ford Dealer or other obsolete parts vendor has any.
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D4TZ10316A .. Voltage Regulator / Obsolete / D4TZ10316A was replaced by E2PZ10316A in 1982.

FREESE MOTORS in Monticello IA has 1 = 319-465-3541.

No other Ford Dealer, no obsolete parts vendor has any.
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BE PREPARED: Considering all the ppl out there restoring 1963/81 vehicles, you can bet your bottom dollar these will not be cheap. Unless, they are not Gen-U-ine Ford.

I'd call Freese first as it's a mom and pop dealership...that may not know how hard these are to find.
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btw: C3SZ originally had a white/red Auto-Lite decal on its black cover, D4TZ had a yellow Motorcraft decal on its blue cover.

Both these decals have been reproduced.
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"Concours" restorations: There was no such thing as Motorcraft until 1973/74, you wanna know why?

In 1972/73, Ford was forced by the US Gov't to sell Auto-Lite as the gov't claimed Ford had a monopoly on autoparts.

Ford argued that GM had owned the DELCO brand (DELCO: Dayton Electric Laboratory CO.) since 1911. The argument fell on deaf ears.

Ford then started in-house brand Motorcraft. ALL the parts are the same as are the Ford/Auto-Lite/Motorcraft part numbers.