Problem with my alt/battery charging system

[Ghost]

Bought a brand new battery last month.  Problem is, it's almost dead already.  Had the battery checked twice, both times was told that the battery was a good battery, and that the problem is with my car.  Great.  Checked the alternator, and it's reading just like it should.  We checked the battery while my car was idling, and again as I was revving it, and the read stayed the same at around 13.2.  So my battery isn't being recharged.  However, the gauge in my dash is reading that the battery is recharging.  Frankly, I have no idea what the problem is.

[71challengher]

Bought a brand new battery last month.  Problem is, it's almost dead already.  Had the battery checked twice, both times was told that the battery was a good battery, and that the problem is with my car.  Great.  Checked the alternator, and it's reading just like it should.  We checked the battery while my car was idling, and again as I was revving it, and the read stayed the same at around 13.2.  So my battery isn't being recharged.  However, the gauge in my dash is reading that the battery is recharging.  Frankly, I have no idea what the problem is.

Voltage regulator

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Voltage regulator

As much as it pains me, I'll go with Jackie here. It should read around 13.8 volts charging. You are not far off, but does your voltage regulator have  nice clean connection to ground(the firewall)?


  Mike

[71challengher]

As much as it pains me, I'll go with Jackie here. It should read around 13.8 volts charging. You are not far off, but does your voltage regulator have  nice clean connection to ground(the firewall)?


  Mike

I'm not totally stupid. I have owned a few Mopars 

[Ghost]

Um...  which one is the voltage regulator?  I never was good with electrical stuff.

[71challengher]

Um...  which one is the voltage regulator?  I never was good with electrical stuff.

It's on the firewall. I wish I had a pic.

[71challengher]

Yours should look close to this one. Maybe not on that side . See it right behind the washer bottle. Yours might be more in the middle?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

You'll need to check and clean your wires at - Alternator, Voltage regulator, and bulkhead connections where they enter the interior. Resistance in any of the field wires or the voltage regulator will give it the wrong reading. My charging system is at 14.8v at cruising rpm with no accessories on. Yours is pretty low imo, check out the regulator, clean it all up...


and also (its time to get some spare parts, alternator if you can swing it, voltage regulator, carry a cheap multimeter if ya got one, and a jumper wire you can hook from the alt output to the starter relay in a jam). I had my share of charging system issues, i needed all of the above at one point. 

[71challengher]

don't forget the extra ballis(spelling) resistor

[Swedefish]

Here you go Ghost, marked with a circle. On the firewall behind brake mastercylinder.

[Ghost]

That's where I thought it was.  Thanks for the picture!

[v8440]

My charging system is at 14.8v at cruising rpm with no accessories on.

Wow, that sounds like about .5-1v too high.  I bet battery life is shortened if you're really running that high a voltage at the battery terminals.  If you measured that at the alternator charging terminal it's probably not that high by the time it gets to the battery (voltage drops here and there). 

But yeah, 13.2 sounds low.  I'd expect to see at least 13.7 or 13.8 on a properly charging system.

[blown74]

You might want to check the accuracy of your meter. Check another car or two's battery voltage. Usually your voltage regulator works in the range of 13.5 to 14.5 volts. If you see more then 14.5 volts at the battery for long peroids of time you will over charge your battery. It will run hot and you will boil off all the battery fluid eventually leading to complete battery failure. I don't know off the top of my head but their is probably a way to jump the voltage regulator into putting out its maxium voltage. I'm sure some member of this outstanding forum knows how.

[ted]

is it fixed?

[CrazyPete]

check the wires on the alt. i had the same issue and it turned out a few strands was all that was left on one of the plugs now she charges like a champ.