Strange Electrical Problem on my '70 454
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
Strange Electrical Problem on my '70 454
I have done a lot of searching, but could not find an electrical problem similar to mine so I am going to give it a shot and post...
When I am driving the ammeter guage will sometime go from 0 down to discharge. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason when it happens, but I have noticed a couple of things.
If it happens when the headlights are on, I can hit the bright switch and hit it again and the guage will come back towards 0 and will go to 0when I turn off the headlights.
If it happens during the day (no lights on), it can get the guage to go back to 0 by switching on the interior lights and then switching off.
I did not start the car for about a week...when I tried the battery was dead. I charged the battery and it is fine. No, I did not leave any of the lights on to cause the battery to drain. I have a new optima red top. I also put on a cutoff...kind that goes on the battery post that you turn the **** to disconnect. After a couple of days I reconnected and the car started right up...
I tested the output of the alternator and it was showing a steady readings around between about 13.6 and 14.8 while turning on and off lights, heater, etc. So I believe that the regulator is fine.
Ok...so do I have a short here somewhere? Possibly in the headlight switch? Is there anyway to check to see if it is functioning properly? Perhaps disconnecting it and run the car to see if this is the problem?
Any help would be appreciated as you all know that finding electrical issues sometimes is a real PITA! I am going to give it a shot over the weekend.
Sorry for the long post..TIA,
Paul
When I am driving the ammeter guage will sometime go from 0 down to discharge. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason when it happens, but I have noticed a couple of things.
If it happens when the headlights are on, I can hit the bright switch and hit it again and the guage will come back towards 0 and will go to 0when I turn off the headlights.
If it happens during the day (no lights on), it can get the guage to go back to 0 by switching on the interior lights and then switching off.
I did not start the car for about a week...when I tried the battery was dead. I charged the battery and it is fine. No, I did not leave any of the lights on to cause the battery to drain. I have a new optima red top. I also put on a cutoff...kind that goes on the battery post that you turn the **** to disconnect. After a couple of days I reconnected and the car started right up...
I tested the output of the alternator and it was showing a steady readings around between about 13.6 and 14.8 while turning on and off lights, heater, etc. So I believe that the regulator is fine.
Ok...so do I have a short here somewhere? Possibly in the headlight switch? Is there anyway to check to see if it is functioning properly? Perhaps disconnecting it and run the car to see if this is the problem?
Any help would be appreciated as you all know that finding electrical issues sometimes is a real PITA! I am going to give it a shot over the weekend.
Sorry for the long post..TIA,
Paul
