HOW TO INSTALL CRACKEDBACK'S HEADLIGHT HARNESS
Thanks! I'll get a meter on that battery and test. I'll pull the alternator as well and just have it checked as well.
I should just replace it either way, and the regulator too. The regulator must be old, it say's Sears on it, lol.
Not sure what you mean by getting a meter on the battery.
Checking the battery condition can be done a few ways.
Battery acid tester - check each cell.
Voltage measurements will give a rough idea of condition.
Engine off. 12.5- 12.8 is good. If its above that, flip the lights on for a second to remove surface charge and remeasure.
Cranking the engine (Starting), voltage shouldn't drop below 10 V or so.
Current and voltage under load. This needs an ammeter and carbon pile or similar/equivalent.
Checking the alternator and regulator can be done a few ways. A lot of the new and rebuilt stuff is not very reliable.
One way to check the regulator is with the engine warm and running measure system voltage. (Clip on at the battery or alternator output stud, whatever is convenient).
Increase the engine rpm to 1000, then 1250 and 1500 rpm. Voltage should remain the same.
A rough check of the alternator output can be done in a similar way.
Make sure the battery is charged so you know its not charging much if at all during the testing of the alternator.
Turn on equipment that draws current and bring the rpms from idle to 1250.
At 1000 and certainly 1250 rpm, the voltage should be the same as in your previous test even with lights, heater fan, wipers on.
*If you have an ammeter in the instrument panel, it may show discharge at slow idle and all equipment on, but should zero at the higher rpms.
..If you have an inductive ammeter, you can slip it over the alternator output wire and measure its output current.
