C2 Voltage Regulator Adjustment?

[George C.]

I think I have an over charging situation going on and wonder if I should attempt to adjust the regulator? When driving the car the ampmeter will start jumping from just on the plus side to about 20 amps or so. This is enough for a visible increase in the brightness of the lights. The battery is fine, does not loose charge, all connections are clean and tight. This does not happen constantly, but it does happen frequebtly if that makes any sense. Should I try to adjust the regulator and if so can you tell me how to do it?

George,

#36809

[Clem Z.]

Re: C2 Voltage Regulator Adjustment?

the chevy service manual has the way to do it.

[Jack H.]

Re: C2 Voltage Regulator Adjustment?

Plus, if your car is earlier than '66, such was documented in the Corvette Shop Manual (1963) plus specific addendums (64 and 65). But, the adjustment proceedure is the same as that shown in '66 and '67 Chevrolet Chassis Service Manuals.

When you see erratic behavior such as you describe, it generally means there's an intermittent connection. The V-reg monitors battery condition and instructs the alternator how hard/how long to turn on and pump the battery back up to steady state charge.

If the V-reg 'sees' low battery condition when it isn't low (flakey ground wire contact, faulty wire to contact crimp, oxidized contact surfaces), the symptoms you describe WILL result. The same is true of connections from the V-reg to the alternator that control its turn-on/turn-off operation. Plus, the problem may not be associated with the charging system at all....

Until you confirm that the battery voltage actually jumps in lock-step to the ammeter fluxuations, all you really know is the ammeter's pointer needle is sporadically bouncing. This can be the result of faulty contact integrity in the ammeter wiring.

Yes, it is possible for the v-reg contacts to be pitted/oxidized, but hopefully you see there are other sources for the same symptoms. Most auto parts stores have bench test facilities for v-regs to verify go/no-go condition. BUT, a drawback to this is the v-reg is out of car when tested and not subject to shock vibration and/or the host wiring 'nest' that it has to work in....

[George C.]

Re: C2 Voltage Regulator Adjustment?

Jack,

Great information as always, I will check the ground condition. In my post I said as the ampmeter is jumping to 20 amp readings the lights are actually spiking brighter. This to me indicates that there is an increase in voltage passing through the regulator. I read the manuals and didn't see anything that addressed that situation, I will get my glasses and go give it another look. I think the system works correctly except for this spiking deal. If I turn on lights without the engine running the ampmeter shows discharge. The length of time it shows a charging condition is shorter when first started is pretty much related to how long it has been sitting in the garage and how long I have been playing with the radio, the headlights, and the doors open with lights on

Thanks again for your help.

George