Hey

I've been having problem with my alternator lately
It cuts out once in a while then it will cut back in. when it cuts out everything powers down and runs on the battery. I was wondering if it could be something else besides the alt, because its only a year old if that.

oh yeah its a 78 Ford F-150 with a 302

Thanks for any responses,

Joe

 

I have a 82 full size Bronco that seemed to have the same problem. You might want to check the belt for starters. Then move to the wires coming out of the alt with a voltmeter. Then check wires going to battery. Or after all that, that is what I did, just change your voltage regulator. That was the problem on my Bronco. Hasn't given me any more problems. Good luck.

 

My truck has had all those same simptoms also plus alot more. I agree that it may be your voltage regulator, but if it still does it after you replace the regulator, check your ground to the block. When all my elactical started failing, Iwent through a starter, two voltage regulators, a sulenoid, a ignition switch, and a battery before anyone told me to check my ground.
A word to the wise!!

Good Luck,
NB

 

Thanks i'll have to try that, I have a new voltage regulator, but I think I'll make sure the ground is clean and good. Then go from there.


Thanks,

Joe

 

Hey, I have a 79 ford van e-150 half ton. I bought the van when it was bascially junked. I rebuilt the engine out of it and from the start had problems with it. It wasint charging at all. I tried alot of different trouble shooting and figured it had to be the alternator. I went to the junkyard and found one that would work and put that in. Same problem. Then I was in the situation that I din't know if it was a bad alternator I put in, or if it was something else. So what I did then was buy a regulator and put that in, and guess what, it still din't work. I then bought a brand new alternator and put that in, and guess what, it still din't work. I tried shorting a wire where the voltage reg plugs in and tada, it was barely charging. I tightened the belt (Has to be pretty damn tight, if it's just even a bit too loose, then it won't charge as much as it could, or the belt will slip, then grab causing it to cycle), i tightned the belt and it started charging full blast, the amp meter in my van was pegged. So I plugged the VR back in and it din't work. I took bad the regulator and got another and tada, it was all working great. for a couple of weeks. the regulator went out again. Took it back got another and plugged it in and it was a nogo. It was a brand new regulator so I thought, no way in hell is the regulator. Started tracing wires all the way to the dash, tested the alternator, it was all good. Took the regulator in to test - bad out of the box. got another, worked a day. took it back got another, bad out of box. Got my money back and got a borg-warner brand (Instead of Wells)and it works, but not it charges non stop. I need to test my new regulator and see if the 20.00 one (compared to 10.00 wells) went out. I hope it did because if the regulator is good, then I have electrical problems else where. BTW I checked everything for a short and seem to have none. I did it by removing the negative battery terminal and using a test light between the negative battery post and the ground wire that connects to it to see if something was drawing power while everything was supposed to be off. no shorts. I am still working on my charging system, im on my seventh regulator but what I would recommend is to have your regulator tested, make sure it is good. and what I think the problem is, personally is the belt is a tad too loose. BTW, make sure your regulator is grounded good.

 

Though you checked the ground wire to the block your problem is a bad ground to the body. Check to make sure you have the required ground strap, if you can not locate it, install a 10 gauge ground strap/wire from the negitive side of the battery to a good body bolt. Make sure the area is clean and free of paint or dirt/grease.

Also if you overtighten you alternator belt you will end up having to replace the alternator and/or waterpump, as it overloads the bearings in these items. Your belt may need to be replcated, once they start to slip they get dry/burned and dont grab as well.

Dave

<a href="http://members.aol.com/deleontow/auto/index.htm">http://members.aol.com/deleontow/auto/index.htm</a>

 

It turns out there was a couple bad connetions on the back of the alt. I replaced them, and it works great!.

thanks alot

Joe