Charging problem

[ochretoe]

I put a new alt. on over the weekend. I'm pretty sure its hooked up right but it doesn't seem to charge very well. Belt is tight and it is hooked up according to a diagram I pulled off this sight. Last night I was running heater fan, high beams and wipers. Everything ran fine but it didn't want to start after a short shut down. I would think it would have to be charging to keep up with the load last night but it doesn't seem to be charging the battery. I did not replace the voltage regulator. Should I have and could that be the problem? All this is on my 74 Bronco. Thanks
Steve

 

[Anlushac11]

8)

I would check the negative cable coming off the battery and grounding strap, IIRC on firewall.

I had lots of problems with my 1980 Mustang doing soemthing similar and turned out to be the negative cable.

 

[fordconvert]

Also check the connections at the voltage regulator including the ground which I think on that vintage is the through the case.

 

[XFlow_Fairlane]

I fought charhing issue in my fairlane for a couple weeks....

found out a wire had rubbed and grounded out on the VR so it wasn't energizing the field. 5 mins with some tape and I was good to go (I was just charging up after I drove it every time.

 

[mustang6]

I had a weak charging issue once in a Mustang and the fault turned out to be the wires right at the plug that went into the voltage regulator. Some of them had disinigrated down to just a few wire strands right at the plug. There was enough slack to cut the wires back, put new spade connectors on, and snap them right back into the plug. Problem solved!

 

[Mercury Mike]

Make sure that you have the alternator to solenoid 10 gauge wire connected. My wiring harness wasn't so much of a harness anymore... it was just the different wires from the terminals all over the place. I ended up putting that wire on and it charged right up. Also, make sure that the rubber/plastic piece is between the wire and the alternator, or it will ground, and possibly catch fire, like my old alternator. =P

 

[ochretoe]

OK I went and put a new voltage regulator on and checked all my connections. It is charging now but my volt guage is acting funny. Now it may have not been reading right befor but the guage is not like a modern guage. it has a 15 in the middle going to 0 to both sides. Befor it hung around the middle and moved very little. Now it is in the middle at idle but jumps all the way to the right when I give it gas. Is this normal on a 74 model vehicle?