Intermittant charging?

[422STROKER]

Last couple times I went out I noticed that I get a disharge/charge condition.  I picked up a Voltmeter to verify while driving it.  I am reading 12.1V at idle and it stays/drops while driving.  Then all if the sudden bam, it jumps up to 14.2-5V.  I checked the connections at the Alternator and Verified the grounding at the Voltage Regulator.  What should I swap first?  Or do I just swap both...

Never have a problem starting the car, seems odd.  No rhyme or reason to the Charging cycle.  When I pulled in to the show today it was charging after discharging most of the way there.  Then on the way home it was charging most of the way home then it just stopped as I pulled into the driveway.

I checked the back of the Alternator while it wasn't chargng and I had 11.9V at both field terminals.  I had 12.1V at the Big stud.  Same as the Battery while running.  Battery while off is at 13V+- a bit.

Thanks
Tom

[wally426ci]

make sure the green field wires are connected back at the firewall. i believe they go straight to the regulator. anytime ive had this problem, it had something to do with those little guys. its scary, you're headlights will go turbo bright to real dim. 

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I'm guessing voltage regulator. I had that problem. They are cheap to come by. I think mine was $18.  Make sure it has a good clean connection to ground though. If your alternator went South, there would never be any charging.


  Mike

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I'd check the bulkhead connections, connections at the v/r, field connections at the alt. If all that seems good, i'd suspect a v/r myself. And if you've yet to change it, it won't hurt to have a back up! DAMHIK

i ended up running my  v/r off a relay instead of through the stock wiring and have seen a little more steady charging over stock.

[wally426ci]

go the extra couple bucks and grab the mopar one. I used to burn through cheapy ones left and right. id start the car, voltage would jump, and if you turned the headlights on before it settled, BAM Voltage Reg gone..... 

[JayBee]

I had a similar problem too. Everything was good then, for no reason, no charging, then charging again. After a few weeks of this BS it just stopped charging all together. Turned out to be the voltage regulator. Now I drive around with a known good spare. Good luck with yours and let us know what it turns out to be.

John

[422STROKER]

Thanks Guys,  I picked up a VR this afternoon!  Haven't had a chance to toss it in yet though.

I'll let you guys know.

BTW I had checked all the connections and snugged up the VR Bolts as well.  I picked up a cheapie locally(16 bucks) but plan on picking up a more correct looking one later on.

Tom

[71 DEPUTY]

check the alt's field brushes too