C2 Charging System Problems

[Mike Yager]

I continue to experience charging system problems in my '64. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed my battery gauge would indicate a discharge while driving with the headlights on. I put in a new voltage regulator from LICS. That seemed to cure the problem as the car battery gauge would show a positive charge whenever the car was running, even with the headlights on. However, readings on the battery gauge were eratic. The needle would jump around quite a bit. During hard acceleration, it would read almost 40 and at cruisong speed be at 20.

The other day I went to start the car and the battery was completely dead. I put my battery charger on it for a recharge. After recharging the battery, it would begin to lose its charge with it being completely dead again by the next morning. The battery gauge does not show a discharge while the car is sitting and there are no accessories that are on. I took the battery to my local auto parts store to test it and it tested fine.

The alternator is not original and is a replacement. I am not sure what the output is on it. The only thing that seemed to change here was the voltage regulator. Could the new voltage regulator cause the battery to go dead like this? The voltage regulator is pretty easy to install. I can't imagine I installed it wrong but perhaps I did. Is there something I should look for?

Thanks for your help.

Mike

[Joe C.]

C2 Charging Problems

Mike:

My first thought is that your battery will not hold a charge, i.e. bad cell(s). Next in line would be a short.

Joe

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 Charging Problems

To answer the question, it is possible for the regulator to cause this problem, but it is unusual. If the battery is at full charge and the guage is reading 20A+ running, that is unusual. After running a while it should drop back to near zero. You have two indications here. The first is the original condition, that indicates an alternator that just cant keep up at low RPM, or maybe a misadjusted regulator. The second, after the change, indicates a bad regulator or wiring problem. The draining battery symptom could be common to both. I am going to assume that the battery will retain a charge when it is left disconnected.? I would first charge the battery up and then let it sit with the regulator unpluged to see if it still discharges. Then let it sit with the alternator wires disconnected. You should get an indication where the problem is.

[Michael H.]

Re: C2 Charging System Problems

Mike -

If your battery is shot and you charge it and drive the car you will ruin the alternator. The alternator was never designed to recharge a dead battery, which is what it's trying to do if the battery is shot.

I suggest you pull the alternator and have it bench tested. Also, load test the battery and replace it if it fails.

[Richard L.]

Re: C2 Charging System Problems

Hi Mike,

If you're going to take your alternator to have it tested, you might want to drop by AutoZone and pick up a Wells Voltage Regulator as an additional testing deivice. They cost about $10-$12 and get this, they come with a lifetime warranty for as long as you own the car! They are also a solid state device and are not adjustable. In fact, the top cover is riveted on where you can't remove it. The cover is not painted black (I painted mine) and it doesn't say Delco-Remy, but once it's painted you can't tell. I have a 65 327-350 HP car and the Part Number for mine was a Wells VR 715. When you get through using it as a diagnostic tool, you can put it in your storage well and carry it with you in case you need it in the future. One of the few cheap things I have found for these cars...

Hope this Helps...

Rick

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 Charging System Problems

Quote: "If your battery is shot and you charge it and drive the car you will ruin the alternator. The alternator was never designed to recharge a dead battery, which is what it's trying to do if the battery is shot."

Sorry Mike, I am not trying to pick on you, but I keep hearing this statement and It just aint so. That alternator is designed to charge a dead battery. It is just naive to think that the engineers didn't design in the capability to charge a dead battery. Like no one is going to jump off a car and drive it off. They know that this will happen and I am sure it happens thousands of times a day in this country. When a battery is dead, initially it draws very little current from the charging system. As the charging process goes on the battery draws its maximum current at the voltage that the regulator sets. That usually is something like 40+- amps until full charge is achieved when the rate falls off to a maintenance level. I agree that it puts some stress on the alternator, but a good one will have no trouble with this. The only condition that would have the potential to kill an alternator would be one which is internally shorted out, which is pretty rare. When most batteries fail, the internal resistance is high and it will draw very little current.

[Mike Yager]

Re: C2 Charging System Problems

Thanks everyone for the advice. It appears I have found the problem and it was a bad connector at the voltage regulator - it looks original. The plastic had cracked in the connector and the line from the battery was shorting out to the line next to it. It must have been a constant open circuit to the battery - probably like having the ignition switch on all the time.

I fixed the connector and the terminal. The battery did not lose its charge last night and the battery gauge appears to be working normally. I will try and take the car out this evening for a long drive to see how everything acts.

I never saw the problem with the connector because you cannot see this thing with the regulator in place. I have always wondered why they put it this way and did not have the connector on the top or the side. The only thing I can think of is that the engineers felt that moisture would get trapped in the connector if it was on the top or the side. I can't think they purposely designed it this way.

Thanks again! This board is a great resource. It has helped me out on many occasions. It would be far more difficult and costly to keep my car running without this board.

[Michael H.]

Re: C2 Charging System Problems

Hey Wayne -

After replacing 2 alternators that is what the tech support staff at Powermaster told me. Since I'm just a dumb Civil Engineer I just took them at their word. I did hear the same comment about ruining the alternator from the guys at AC Delco when I replaced the battery. If there are any Electrical Engineers from AC Delco out there, let us know the straight scoop!