74 cuda electrical mystery

Author Topic: 74 cuda electrical mystery  (Read 7600 times)

Offline b5blueaar

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74 cuda electrical mystery
« on: April 09, 2004 - 05:13:02 PM »
74 cuda with 68 440. Non electronic ignition.
new alternator, new voltage regulator (grounded),new ballast resistor.
I can run a hot lead to the pos side of coil and engine fires right up.
both alternator field taps put out 12.5 volts until the voltage regulator (dark green) wire is attached, then the output at that field tap goes to zero.
Car will not run with voltage regulator attached because volts goes to zero from the alternator until the regulator is disconnected, then volts goes back to 12.5
Any suggestions?




Offline oldvamoparfan

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2004 - 06:20:26 PM »
Sounds weird to me.  Check for voltage on pos side of coil, & on both sides of ballast.  If none there, follow lead back to firewall & to ign sw.  Also check for 12v at big post on alternator.  It should read battery voltage at all times.   Ovmf
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Offline b5blueaar

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2004 - 11:10:14 PM »
big post on alternator does read battery voltage at all times.
zero volts at ballast except when ingnition switch is in start postion, then the ign switch feeds 12 volts to the coil side of ballast. As soon as engine starts and ign switch returns to run position, all voltage is zero on both sides of ballast and engine dies.
the alternator is not feeding voltage to the regulator, but does show 12 volts when regulator is disconnected

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2004 - 01:30:52 AM »
you have a problem with the dark blue wire / circuit , check thr bulkhead connector & the ign switch plug at the bottom of the column , the blue wire should have 12 v with the key in the run position
 the 2 leads at the alternator , 1 should be blue & have battery voltae with thew key on , this is the same blue circuit that feeds the ballast resister , the second feild wire is green & should not have 12v unplugged from the alt & is a controlled ground through the regulator    

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Offline Pistol Gripper

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #4 on: April 10, 2004 - 01:16:15 PM »
What Chryco said.  I had the exact same problem and it turned out to be the connector at the base of the steering column, mine is a white nylon 8 wire Mylex connector that was fried.  I spliced the wires together temporarily and it's back to normal.

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Offline b5blueaar

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #5 on: April 10, 2004 - 03:26:33 PM »
thanks guys,
I checked out the dark blue wire circuit and found that the electrical skematic I was using is wrong. It is the official skematic from the cuda manual, but it does not show the dark blue wire feeding both the field terminal and the ballast resistor (it only shows it connected to the field terminal on alternator)
The little wiring diagram that came with the voltage regulator shows it connected to both.
I spliced in and connnected it to the ballast resistor also and bingo starts ands runs perfect.
Now if I can figure out how to wire in the electric choke and which vacuum tap to connect it to. Any advice?

Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #6 on: April 10, 2004 - 05:47:15 PM »
b5blueaar,
  What kind of carb. do you have? On a Holley, all you have to do is connect the choke to a switched power source and ground. No vacuum hook-ups. I imagine other manufacturers are the same ???

  Mike

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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2004 - 12:27:07 AM »
the choke needs to be wired into the Blue circuit as well , not sure what you need vacuum for ?

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Offline b5blueaar

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2004 - 09:29:33 AM »
the carb is a Carter AFB competitions series.
the round choke "pot" has +- marks like you can advance or retard the choke off point.
at the bottom of the pot is a 1/4 inch vacuum port. maybe vacuum runs a diaphram to move the choke lever?

Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2004 - 03:46:57 PM »
Gosh,
  I wish I could help you, but vacuum has nothing to do with an electric choke. The choke opens up when it gets hot from the voltage running thru it. Could you post any pictures, as I'm not familiar with Carter?

  Mike

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Offline b5blueaar

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2004 - 10:43:00 PM »
If i can remember, I will take pic tommorrow and post.

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2004 - 03:24:22 AM »
sound like a heat tube from the crossiver port on a GM , plug it

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Offline b5blueaar

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2004 - 01:17:19 PM »
heres a pic of the mystery port.
it actually has a slight vacuum on it when engine is running. I can plug it with my finger and feel a vacuum.

Offline b5blueaar

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2004 - 01:18:44 PM »
pic

[attachment deleted by admin]

Offline Tim440RT

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Re:74 cuda electrical mystery
« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2004 - 08:15:21 PM »
my solution to the choke, is to get a manual choke, ive had so many problems with my choke on an edelbrock performer, I just ordered a manual choke street avenger
 ;)
1970 Challenger R/T 440