Way too much charge!!! Please help!!!

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Oct 16, 2007 | 01:56 AM

c3corvettes

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 290

Likes: 0

From: Winchester CA

Way too much charge!!! Please help!!!

Hello everyone,

On my way to work today, the battery charging guage was acting really weird. The needle suddenly went all the way to the right and stayed there!

I also noticed that my electrical accessories were working super effective; normally these items are slower (i.e. power windows rolled up and down really fast, the turn signal blinkers were working very fast too). What happened? I hope my car doesn't catch fire on my way home!

I'm off in about 5 minutes. I hope you guys can shed some light.

Thanks,

c3corvettes

Oct 16, 2007 | 03:20 AM

RunningMan373

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 3,246

Likes: 4

From: Bay Area CA

Yea, you lost your voltage regulator. It's internal to your alternator, good way to fry your cars electrical or blow up your battery. Don't drive the car like this or even start it. Take the alternator to an auto parts store to test it. or just by a new one. that's whats wrong.

Oct 16, 2007 | 05:03 AM

wolfyffs

Advanced

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 78

Likes: 0

From: Nashville NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunningMan373

Don't drive it until you replace the alterantor.

Oct 16, 2007 | 05:33 AM

c3corvettes

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 290

Likes: 0

From: Winchester CA

I made it home...

Thanks. I had no clue as to what had happened. I'll get one first thing tomorrow morning.

Oct 16, 2007 | 05:38 AM

I'm Batman

Team Owner

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 23,831

Likes: 10

From: Springfield MO

St. Jude Donor '07

Less likely possibility is that something happened to the sense wire coming from the alternator.

Oct 16, 2007 | 05:44 AM

RunningMan373

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 3,246

Likes: 4

From: Bay Area CA

Could be,, Can't always assume, untill you have it checked.....
If he pulls the Alt and it checks good, then we can check out the other 10%,

Oct 16, 2007 | 05:45 AM

c3corvettes

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 290

Likes: 0

From: Winchester CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by I'm Batman

Less likely possibility is that something happened to the sense wire coming from the alternator.

"Sense Wire" Which one is that?

Oct 16, 2007 | 06:02 AM

I'm Batman

Team Owner

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 23,831

Likes: 10

From: Springfield MO

St. Jude Donor '07

Quote:

Originally Posted by c3corvettes

"Sense Wire" Which one is that?

The 10ga red that goes into the plug on the alternator. Not the 10ga red attached to the "BAT" lug. It reads the voltage from the distribution point so that the regulator can keep the voltage steady. If it got cut or disconnected, strange things could well happen.

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Oct 16, 2007 | 08:12 AM

c3corvettes

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 290

Likes: 0

From: Winchester CA

What should the amperage rating be on the replacement alternator? 1980 with power everything, cruise, rear defroster, AC, etc., etc.

Oct 16, 2007 | 09:46 AM

#10

Brooklinite

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 1,152

Likes: 23

From: Kawartha Lakes and PEC, Ontario

Same thing happened on my '77 (years ago). I turned the headlights on and the voltage guage dropped down to normal. New voltage regulator in the alternator fixed it.

Oct 16, 2007 | 03:47 PM

#11

c3corvettes

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 290

Likes: 0

From: Winchester CA

What should the AMP rating be?

Quote:

Originally Posted by c3corvettes

What should the amperage rating be on the replacement alternator? 1980 with power everything, cruise, rear defroster, AC, etc., etc.

Is the AMP rating the car was equipped with 70 amps? Can I go with a higher amp rated alternator, and if so what should be the highest rating I can go with without burning something up?

Thanks

Oct 16, 2007 | 04:05 PM

#12

hugie82

Safety Car

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 3,652

Likes: 49

From: Bridgewater nj

Quote:

Originally Posted by c3corvettes

Is the AMP rating the car was equipped with 70 amps? Can I go with a higher amp rated alternator, and if so what should be the highest rating I can go with without burning something up?

Thanks

You should be safe up to 100 amps if your wires are in good shape. PS go with the three wire alt. not the one wire (save yourself from more headaches)

Oct 16, 2007 | 04:44 PM

#13

RunningMan373

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 3,246

Likes: 4

From: Bay Area CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugie82

You should be safe up to 100 amps if your wires are in good shape. PS go with the three wire alt. not the one wire (save yourself from more headaches)

Oct 17, 2007 | 01:34 PM

#14

Lon Wayne

Drifting

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 1,480

Likes: 2

From: Circleville Ohio

Vader Vette

Wire size should not matter what matters is the amount of the pull.the alt only has the capibality of putting out 100 amps that does not mean it does it.