Hope you are all doing well, it's been a while. I'm having troubles with charging on my 65 F100. I thought for sure it was the alternator but I just put a new one on and still won't run if I disconnect the battery. What should I look for? Wiring is my downfall, I have a meter but not sure where I should be looking. Is there a way to check the reg to see if it is okay? Thanks for any input and Don if you're around give me a holler.

Thanks

 

It could be a bad connection (ground or otherwise), but I bet it's the regulator... especially if you disconnected the battery with the engine running. The system needs the battery as a "load".

Check the voltage at the battery with the key off. Voltage should be around 12.8 with a good charge. Start the truck and check voltage again while reving the engine a little. Voltage should be (roughly) between 13.8 and 14.2. Let us know what you find.

Another thing.. if the battery is 5 years old, it's probably shot. Also, a few deep discharges will kill a battery in a short amount of time.

 

Thanks jmf66,
I went out and checked the voltage and it was at 12.07v. After starting it it went to 11.94v and yea the battery is a good one and new. It just doesn't seem to be charging at all and this is very recent. Any Ideas of where to go from here? I did check the other ends of the wires too and posts so it's not a connection issue at the battery.

Thanks Again

 

Freshen up the ground at the regulator. Remove it, brighten the metal a bit, reattach it, and try again.

 

I'll try that, I just got done stripping the front end and repainting so I'll check that out and get back tomorrow. Getting dark here now but thanks Banjo, i'll let you know what I find.

Cheers!

 

I would be looking for loose or corroded connections everywhere anything has been disconnected and then any place else. Time and again I see parts replaced when the problem is the result of loose cables and connections.

Steve

 

I would be looking for loose or corroded connections everywhere anything has been disconnected and then any place else. Time and again I see parts replaced when the problem is the result of loose cables and connections.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve, I'll go through everything I removed and see what I can see. Is there any test I can do with the regulator to check it? After I search for loose wires or connections, and I'm musually pretty good at making good connections. I've had this truck going on 13 yrs now so I'm used to those. lol
Thanks

 

Hi Rob,

Can you work backwards from the battery connection by connection to see if you have voltage anywhere aft of the alternator?

I am extremely conservative when it comes to changing parts, especially when I have taken something apart. given your voltages, you certainly are correct. Your battery is doing all the work.

Good luck,

Steve

 

I can try that, wish I had paid more attention in autoshop about electrical. It drives me nuts, yea I only drive it a couple times a week for short trips so it has been running off the batt for a few weeks at least. Just put a new alt on it yesterday thinking for sure that was it and with no change. Which lead off the alt should have the voltage and what should it be? and I'll go from there.
Thanks again Steve.

 

The regulator (if it's the original type) has points in it that get stuck.

Rap on the regulator's cover with your knuckles (or whatever) to see if that loosens things up.

This is an old trick that works. If y'all see voltage regulator covers with dents in them...now you know how those dents got there.

In 1982, Ford replaced the alternator regulators used 1963/81 with an electronic regulator. The wiring harness is the same.

 

LMAO!! Thanks Bill, if all else fails smack it! hope you are well my friend, it's been a while. I'll give it a try after I check the wires.
Cheers!

 

Update!!! I think I have found where the problem is but not sure how to fix it. Icleaned all the connections up and now have found that if I pull up on the plug that goes into the regulator it starts charging. I've cleaned all those connections so I'm thinking it is in the regulator itself. Is there any way to open these things to see where the loose connection is? the other thing it could be is a bad wire to plug connection inside the rubber plug holder. The only way to fix that I can see is to cut the plug so I can see which wire goes to each of the four connections. If you know anything about this I'd love some help.

Thanks again.

 

$13 at oreilly automotive a d u can have a new regulator. check the terminal ends in the plug and make sure they are pushed in the connector and tight on the terminals on the regulator. they are spring lodaded

 

Like ND and others have suggested , buy one of the new regulators and forgetdaboutit. Or, check out e-bay for a one wire 130 AMP 3G conversion. And really solve the problem.