Still having charging problems
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Still having charging problems
Ok, brand new battery and brand new from Advance Auto, (lifetime warranty rebuilt) alternator. On first start up, it will show positive charge. When you put a load on it, ie headlights and A/C, voltmeter dips almost to the bottom of the scale. It will move back and forth randomly as you are driving, sometimes showing a charge, sometimes discharge. The old alternator was doing exactly the same thing. I need this fixed by next week, as I'm heading to the beach the week before Carlisle, and hope to have the car fixed by then so I can drive it, since I've already paid my registration.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Warrensburg MO
I would put a meter on the battery and check the voltage with engine off, and then with engine running. See if your meter gets the same readings. Sounds like a voltage regulator, which is probably is the alternator, but I am not 100% sure on that. Might just be a bad new alternator. Cheers
TommyJ
TommyJ
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
From: Myrtle Beach South Carolina
You didn't mention what year C3 - but sounds like a marginal ground. There is an important ground cable from the frame to the engine (near the RH engine mount on my '73). I had a similar problem, and put in a new Frame to Engine graound cable with "star" washers. Also, check the Battery ground cable to the frame connection - make sure of good contact (no rust/paint in the way)
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
It's on a 79, and I'm trying to fix the situation where it sometimes shows a discharge, so that is always shows a charge. That's what it used to do before I started haveing problems.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
Nothing added. In fact I usually have a big subwoofer box with an amp in the cargo area, and have taken that out once I first started having problems, to eliminate that as a possible source of problems.
