CHARGING AT IDLE

[cudaneil]

   Is the alt supposed to show any charge at idle speed, or does it only start to charge above idle speed ?

    The reason i am asking is that my turn signals flash real slow at idle,but above idle speed they flash normally !

    Is there a smaller alternator pulley available to cure this problem ?

[Chryco Psycho]

That is normal , a smaller pulley may help as well but most of these car discharge at idle
 the newer ALt seem to charge more consistantly if you want to upgrade / convert it

[cudaneil]

That is normal , a smaller pulley may help as well but most of these car discharge at idle
 the newer ALt seem to charge more consistantly if you want to upgrade / convert it

    Is it an easy upgrade/conversion CHRYCO ?  Is there a noticeable difference with the upgrade alt, as mine looks quite new!

[Chryco Psycho]

relatively easy upgrade , the regulator is internal so you need to change 2 wires
44Source has the conversion , so does Mancini
if you can live with it the way it is I would leave it alone , the only problem I can see is if you were sitting in traffic for long periods of time it could discharge the battery other than that they all did that originally

[cudaneil]

relatively easy upgrade , the regulator is internal so you need to change 2 wires
44Source has the conversion , so does Mancini
if you can live with it the way it is I would leave it alone , the only problem I can see is if you were sitting in traffic for long periods of time it could discharge the battery other than that they all did that originally

  OK thanks,  I have a smaller pulley being sent to me from OHIO...............that should fix the problem !

  There was 2 sizes of pulley made, a 3" (mine) and a 2 1/2" which i have managed to find one.

[ntstlgl1970]

even with the small pulley, they discharge @idle unless you up the idle to maybe 900-1000 rpm.

[cudaneil]

even with the small pulley, they discharge @idle unless you up the idle to maybe 900-1000 rpm.

                   OK, Thanks..................thats what i'll have to do,at least my turn signals will flash then !       

[Moparal]

I'm a bit confused here and may be missing something.   I got a bone stock system. Single pulley alternator, correct size amp battery and such. My car had sat since 1973 and disassebled to a hull.  When I first put it together it was acting kinda like yours and dis charging. I ended up buying a new set of NOS battery cables, cleaned the fuse box, fuesable link, and all conectors. Everything started working like it did when new. The only other problem I had was an original flasher went bad. I also had to clean the connectors at the amp gauge in the dash. Are you sure you have everything clean and tight?  Did you check the amp wire going to the alt to make sure it isn't corroded ?   

[cudaneil]

 I have checked the connections,and today i disconnected the plugs at the firewall to check the spade connections. they were

 ok so i gave them a spray with wd40 and put them back. 
 
Something i did notice was when i had the car at idle and turned on the headlamps the motor stopped, so i restarted it and put

on the headlamps again and the motor stopped again !   Could this be that the alternator casing is not earthing to the engine block, as someone told me it has to be earthed.

I also put my voltmeter on the battery and it read 12 1/2 volts, started the motor and it still read the same even revved up !

Now that cant be right.   I have the old type round back alt fitted with the 3 wires,           

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I have checked the connections,and today i disconnected the plugs at the firewall to check the spade connections. they were

 ok so i gave them a spray with wd40 and put them back. 
 
Something i did notice was when i had the car at idle and turned on the headlamps the motor stopped, so i restarted it and put

on the headlamps again and the motor stopped again !   Could this be that the alternator casing is not earthing to the engine block, as someone told me it has to be earthed.

I also put my voltmeter on the battery and it read 12 1/2 volts, started the motor and it still read the same even revved up !

Now that cant be right.   I have the old type round back alt fitted with the 3 wires,           

This all seems like your alternator isn't charging, or the voltage regulator isn't telling it to charge. The voltage at the battery should be close to 14 volts with the engine running. The alternator would get it's ground from the big bolt going thru it mounting it to the block. Is your voltage regulator securely mounted to the body?

[Chryco Psycho]

you definatly have a charging problem , you shoul dhave 13.2 V from the battery & 13.6-14.2 running

[cudaneil]

  Could be an earth problem with the alt or reg box (it has a new electronic reg fitted)

   I'll get right on it guys !                               Neil.

[Chryco Psycho]

the Blue wire to both the ALt & Reg should have 12v , the green wire needs to connect between the alt & Regulator . The alts is generally very reliable , the only problems it has generally is either bad brushes which can be swapped out or bad diodes , the newer regulators are ore suspect as they all seem to be made in China & last a few weeks at best , I put a new one in my truck approx every 8 months - a year

[cudaneil]

   Found the problem,  the long mounting bolt on the alternator is the ground and it was rusty. Cleaned everything up

                           and also fitted an extra ground cable from the alt casing to the cyl head.  Charging ok now. 

[Chryco Psycho]