Old Chrysler Charging System Problem

Hi all,

A neighbor has an old 67 Dodge Coronet that uses Chryslers old single
element mechanical regulator along with an alternator.

A while back it stopped charging, we did a field test, discovered a bad
alternator and replaced same. Charged the battery back up, and all was
well.

A couple of weeks later, it started showing a high charge rate on it's
instrument cluster ammeter. A quick voltmeter check showed fast idle
battery terminal voltage over 16V. Mechanically rapping on the voltage
regulator brought the charge rate back to normal, but it was
overcharging again in short order. We replaced the regulator and again
all was well.

Then it did a carbon copy of the overcharge thing in another few weeks,
and then again and again...

The cheapie auto parts place is replacing these regulators under
warranty, (one time even gave us a more name brand that had the same
problem). However, I'm getting the feeling something may be lunching all
these regulators.

Any old timers, or classic car buff's out there with ideas or experience
with old time Chrysler charging systems?

Thanks!

Erik

Erik wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> A neighbor has an old 67 Dodge Coronet that uses Chryslers old single
> element mechanical regulator along with an alternator.
>
> A while back it stopped charging, we did a field test, discovered a bad
> alternator and replaced same. Charged the battery back up, and all was
> well.
>
> A couple of weeks later, it started showing a high charge rate on it's
> instrument cluster ammeter. A quick voltmeter check showed fast idle
> battery terminal voltage over 16V. Mechanically rapping on the voltage
> regulator brought the charge rate back to normal, but it was
> overcharging again in short order. We replaced the regulator and again
> all was well.
>
> Then it did a carbon copy of the overcharge thing in another few weeks,
> and then again and again...
>
> The cheapie auto parts place is replacing these regulators under
> warranty, (one time even gave us a more name brand that had the same
> problem). However, I'm getting the feeling something may be lunching all
> these regulators.
>
> Any old timers, or classic car buff's out there with ideas or experience
> with old time Chrysler charging systems?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Erik

Does the alternator still charge if you disconnect the field wire? It
shouldn't. Also is the regulator *well* grounded? A floating ground
can cause all sorts of issues.

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

How is the ground path between the regulator and 'alternator' and
battery?

I would be checking the battery to engine and battery to body or engine
to body grounds carefully.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Erik wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> A neighbor has an old 67 Dodge Coronet that uses Chryslers old single
> element mechanical regulator along with an alternator.
>
> A while back it stopped charging, we did a field test, discovered a bad
> alternator and replaced same. Charged the battery back up, and all was
> well.
>
> A couple of weeks later, it started showing a high charge rate on it's
> instrument cluster ammeter. A quick voltmeter check showed fast idle
> battery terminal voltage over 16V. Mechanically rapping on the voltage
> regulator brought the charge rate back to normal, but it was
> overcharging again in short order. We replaced the regulator and again
> all was well.
>
> Then it did a carbon copy of the overcharge thing in another few weeks,
> and then again and again...
>
> The cheapie auto parts place is replacing these regulators under
> warranty, (one time even gave us a more name brand that had the same
> problem). However, I'm getting the feeling something may be lunching all
> these regulators.
>
> Any old timers, or classic car buff's out there with ideas or experience
> with old time Chrysler charging systems?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Erik

Agreed on all the above, former owner of 69 Six Pak super stock car, now we
know who the "old" guys are.
"Mike Romain" > wrote in message
...
> How is the ground path between the regulator and 'alternator' and
> battery?
>
> I would be checking the battery to engine and battery to body or engine
> to body grounds carefully.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Erik wrote:
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> A neighbor has an old 67 Dodge Coronet that uses Chryslers old single
>> element mechanical regulator along with an alternator.
>>
>> A while back it stopped charging, we did a field test, discovered a bad
>> alternator and replaced same. Charged the battery back up, and all was
>> well.
>>
>> A couple of weeks later, it started showing a high charge rate on it's
>> instrument cluster ammeter. A quick voltmeter check showed fast idle
>> battery terminal voltage over 16V. Mechanically rapping on the voltage
>> regulator brought the charge rate back to normal, but it was
>> overcharging again in short order. We replaced the regulator and again
>> all was well.
>>
>> Then it did a carbon copy of the overcharge thing in another few weeks,
>> and then again and again...
>>
>> The cheapie auto parts place is replacing these regulators under
>> warranty, (one time even gave us a more name brand that had the same
>> problem). However, I'm getting the feeling something may be lunching all
>> these regulators.
>>
>> Any old timers, or classic car buff's out there with ideas or experience
>> with old time Chrysler charging systems?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Erik
>



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In article >,
Erik > wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> A neighbor has an old 67 Dodge Coronet that uses Chryslers old single
> element mechanical regulator along with an alternator.
>
> A while back it stopped charging, we did a field test, discovered a bad
> alternator and replaced same. Charged the battery back up, and all was
> well.
>
> A couple of weeks later, it started showing a high charge rate on it's
> instrument cluster ammeter. A quick voltmeter check showed fast idle
> battery terminal voltage over 16V. Mechanically rapping on the voltage
> regulator brought the charge rate back to normal, but it was
> overcharging again in short order. We replaced the regulator and again
> all was well.
>
> Then it did a carbon copy of the overcharge thing in another few weeks,
> and then again and again...
>
> The cheapie auto parts place is replacing these regulators under
> warranty, (one time even gave us a more name brand that had the same
> problem). However, I'm getting the feeling something may be lunching all
> these regulators.
>
> Any old timers, or classic car buff's out there with ideas or experience
> with old time Chrysler charging systems?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Erik

From the alternator output stud, the circuit goes to the bulkhead
connector, from bulkhead connector to one side of the ammeter,
other side of ammeter to bulkhead, from bulkhead to the starter
relay where it connects to the pigtail from the positive battery
cable.
Bulkhead connections, there are 4 terminals (2 male, 2 female),
any of these four can become corroded and high resistance.
Ammeter, there are two connections that can corrode and become
high resistance.
You'll probably find on cavity in one of the bulkhead connectors
that's melted from the heat..

Somewhere in this circuit you have high resistance.

Common problem on old MoPars.

> A neighbor has an old 67 Dodge Coronet that uses Chryslers old single
> element mechanical regulator along with an alternator.
>
> A while back it stopped charging, we did a field test, discovered a bad
> alternator and replaced same. Charged the battery back up, and all was
> well.


Are you using the electronic or mechanical replacement units? The
electronic are generally about half as thick as the mechanical.

Remove the regulator and shine up all the ground points on the body.
Check your body grounds as well along with the wiring between the
alternator and regulator.

Steve B.

Good info again AAR, take a look at the last post from rv on the spark is
spark post.
"aarcuda69062" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Erik > wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> A neighbor has an old 67 Dodge Coronet that uses Chryslers old single
>> element mechanical regulator along with an alternator.
>>
>> A while back it stopped charging, we did a field test, discovered a bad
>> alternator and replaced same. Charged the battery back up, and all was
>> well.
>>
>> A couple of weeks later, it started showing a high charge rate on it's
>> instrument cluster ammeter. A quick voltmeter check showed fast idle
>> battery terminal voltage over 16V. Mechanically rapping on the voltage
>> regulator brought the charge rate back to normal, but it was
>> overcharging again in short order. We replaced the regulator and again
>> all was well.
>>
>> Then it did a carbon copy of the overcharge thing in another few weeks,
>> and then again and again...
>>
>> The cheapie auto parts place is replacing these regulators under
>> warranty, (one time even gave us a more name brand that had the same
>> problem). However, I'm getting the feeling something may be lunching all
>> these regulators.
>>
>> Any old timers, or classic car buff's out there with ideas or experience
>> with old time Chrysler charging systems?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Erik
>
> From the alternator output stud, the circuit goes to the bulkhead
> connector, from bulkhead connector to one side of the ammeter,
> other side of ammeter to bulkhead, from bulkhead to the starter
> relay where it connects to the pigtail from the positive battery
> cable.
> Bulkhead connections, there are 4 terminals (2 male, 2 female),
> any of these four can become corroded and high resistance.
> Ammeter, there are two connections that can corrode and become
> high resistance.
> You'll probably find on cavity in one of the bulkhead connectors
> that's melted from the heat..
>
> Somewhere in this circuit you have high resistance.
>
> Common problem on old MoPars.
>



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In article >,
"Shep" > wrote:

> Good info again AAR, take a look at the last post from rv on the spark is
> spark post.

Wowzers! Another graduate of the Jiffy-Lube tune up school.

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005, Erik wrote:

> A neighbor has an old 67 Dodge Coronet that uses Chryslers old single
> element mechanical regulator along with an alternator.

You're getting good advice from AAR. One other thing:

> showing a high charge rate on it's instrument cluster ammeter. A quick
> voltmeter check showed fast idle battery terminal voltage over 16V.
> Mechanically rapping on the voltage regulator brought the charge rate
> back to normal, but it was overcharging again in short order. We
> replaced the regulator and again all was well. Then it did a carbon copy
> of the overcharge thing in another few weeks, and then again and
> again... The cheapie auto parts place is replacing these regulators
> under warranty,

Stop buying cheap **** and start buying real parts!

On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 06:40:46 -0400, Nate Nagel > wrote:

>Erik wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> A neighbor has an old 67 Dodge Coronet that uses Chryslers old single
>> element mechanical regulator along with an alternator.
>>
>> A while back it stopped charging, we did a field test, discovered a bad
>> alternator and replaced same. Charged the battery back up, and all was
>> well.
>>
>> A couple of weeks later, it started showing a high charge rate on it's
>> instrument cluster ammeter. A quick voltmeter check showed fast idle
>> battery terminal voltage over 16V. Mechanically rapping on the voltage
>> regulator brought the charge rate back to normal, but it was
>> overcharging again in short order. We replaced the regulator and again
>> all was well.
>>
>> Then it did a carbon copy of the overcharge thing in another few weeks,
>> and then again and again...
>>
>> The cheapie auto parts place is replacing these regulators under
>> warranty, (one time even gave us a more name brand that had the same
>> problem). However, I'm getting the feeling something may be lunching all
>> these regulators.
>>
>> Any old timers, or classic car buff's out there with ideas or experience
>> with old time Chrysler charging systems?
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Erik
>
>Does the alternator still charge if you disconnect the field wire? It
>shouldn't. Also is the regulator *well* grounded? A floating ground
>can cause all sorts of issues.
>
>nate

I suggest you find an long established automotive electrical repair shop. If they have a old timer
around that knows how to file and burnish regular points he should be able to fix you right up.

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