Thread: Electrical Gremlins

Tweet

At idle (800 RPM) my 75 Duster goes into discharge. The car has some rust and and all of my tests say that the alternator and voltage regulator are working properly. Any thoughts?

Yeah, a lot of cars will go into discharge at idle. The only way to fix it is to increase the idle, use a smaller alternator pulley, or maybe even use a higher output alternator (it may not be able to produce enough current at such low speed either). I don't have an amperage guage on my truck, but I do have a voltage guage and if I go much below 500 rpm, the voltage will begin to pulsate from 10-14 volts, it usually runs 14 volts constantly.

I've heard that Chrysler alternators have problems at lower rpm's, do you think it would be wise to change to a one wire system? The grounds aren't real good and as soon as it warms up back here I'm going to run a new ground from the frame to the dash.

I'm with Richard on the ground thing. Could also be a diode dying.

This should answer some of your additional questions.

http://www.powermastermotorsports.co...ternators.html

Thanks Bob; Now I have a question, Is the Voltage Regulator built in to the alternator on the dodges, I don't remember. Any way I had a bad wire that came out of the regulator and keeped screwing up the diodes in the alternators. Now they would still charge but at a idle, It would be very little. Took me three alternators and regulators to figure it out.That was In my old 69 cadillac.I don't know if he replaced his regulator or not but we all know we should, If we replace our alternators,RIGHT. I love life time warrenty's.


Vegas

I want to thank everyone, I really hadn't considered diodes or regulators. Hopefully a matched pair will do the trick and again thanks for the advice.
Ken

You might want to add a wire form the battery terminal on the altenator to the positve side of the battery or starter relay,I think chrysler had the wire from the altenator going through the gauge before it went to the battery to charge and thats a long route. I had a 68 newport that would not charge much at idle and thats what I done and it improved the charging,being a 75 you should have the better charging system but if the gauge goes bad it wont charge and adding the extra wire will eliminate that problem. Jeff