Electrical / Charging Problems
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: S.W. corner Missouri
Electrical / Charging Problems
Need some help with my 77. Ever since buying the car 14 years ago I have had some kind of electrical or charging problem. The volt meter in the car shows it over charging, or that's what it looks like to me, the needle is past center to the right of the gauge. I buy a new battery and it doesn't take any time before it gets drained so often and so low that it's no good. I have put a new alternator on it and it helps for a little while it seems then the same thing. I have had the electrical system gone through and they said there were no shorts at all.
I'm going crazy with this problem. I have just finished going through the whole car to make it new. I have a new crate motor, new built tranny, new suspension, interior w/stereo, everything but I can't get this electrical problem fixed.
The only thing I have to try now is putting on an 85 amp alternator in place of the 63 amp factory one. I'm doing this tomorrow. Has anyone else had this problem or have any ideas for me? I want to be able to leave my battery hooked up so I don't have to keep fixing radio or worry about the battery going down while driving.
Thanks for any help.
I'm going crazy with this problem. I have just finished going through the whole car to make it new. I have a new crate motor, new built tranny, new suspension, interior w/stereo, everything but I can't get this electrical problem fixed.
The only thing I have to try now is putting on an 85 amp alternator in place of the 63 amp factory one. I'm doing this tomorrow. Has anyone else had this problem or have any ideas for me? I want to be able to leave my battery hooked up so I don't have to keep fixing radio or worry about the battery going down while driving.
Thanks for any help.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Most of our C3s have a battery drain problem, and I think that is compounding your charging problem.
With fully charged battery, try this:
http://photos.imageevent.com/durango...%20Testing.pdf
As far as charging, I want you to test some wires. At the alternator, from the factory harness, there should be two wires going into the plug that plugs into the alternator. A large red wire, and a smaller white or brown wire.
Test to make sure the large red wire is 12V constant, and make sure the smaller wire is switched 12V with the key. That small wire goes to the alternator from a light bulb in the dash. The GEN light. If that bulb is burned out it won't matter that you have a new alt...it'll never charge right.
With fully charged battery, try this:
http://photos.imageevent.com/durango...%20Testing.pdf
As far as charging, I want you to test some wires. At the alternator, from the factory harness, there should be two wires going into the plug that plugs into the alternator. A large red wire, and a smaller white or brown wire.
Test to make sure the large red wire is 12V constant, and make sure the smaller wire is switched 12V with the key. That small wire goes to the alternator from a light bulb in the dash. The GEN light. If that bulb is burned out it won't matter that you have a new alt...it'll never charge right.
