lights went out?!?

First thing I'd try is get the car running on a good fast idle "low cruise" rig your voltmeter with clip leads to the battery so your hands are free, and confirm it is charging normally. Rig the meter so you can see it through the windshield, then go in and wiggle up under the dash, around the ammeter, wiggle the harness down near the bulkhead connector. If no change, go out in the engine bay, wiggle that side of the bulkhead connector, wiggle the harness near the regulator,

AND MAKE SURE the regulator is actually TIGHT CLEAN and grounded.

I've posted this previously, but there are two other problems that can cause overcharging

They are a poor regulator ground

and voltage drop in the harness feeding switched ignition to the regulator.

To check this, get the engine running, simulate "low to medium cruise" and check with all loads off first, then check again with lights, heater on

Stab a probe of your meter DIRECTLY onto the regulator case, the other DIRECTLY onto battery negative post. Zero volts is perfect, anything over .2V (two tenths) is too much, and indicates you need a ground jumper from the regulator case to the engine block.

Now check the hot side. rig a voltmeter connection at the regulator ign terminal (blue wire on the coil ballast is close enough) and the other probe directly onto the battery hot post. Once again, zero volts is perfect, anything over .2V is too much.

Your supply path is from the battery, cables, ---bulkhead connector -- to the ignition switch connector--through the switch--back out the switch connector--back out the bulkhead connector--to the regulator ign terminal connector.

ANY OF THESE POINTS can be loose/ corroded.

Another thing I always forget to mention --I'm so used to just doing it--is the regulator connector itself on the 70/ later stuff. Wiggle the connector in/ out several times to "wipe" the connector clean, and make sure it is till tight. Inspect it for corrosion inside.


Areas of suspect in this problem are regulator ground and connector, the bulkhead connector, and the failure of a splice inside the under dash harness known as the "number one splice."