1963 dart charging

[69DARTS]

the gauge is on d .
and left me sitting with a dead battery .
just would like some info .
on what to test first
and go from there .
just bought this car last nite
it does not seem to be charging
had the alt tested its good

 

[trapster]

How much field voltage do you have ?
tap on the voltage regulator it may be stuck, or just bad.

 

[67Dart273]

First thing to do is determine if it's alternator, regulator, output wiring, or field wiring.

"Quick" is to disconnect the field terminal and use an alligator lead hooked to that alternator terminal, to connect to battery power. Gently bring up RPM and see if it charges

If if charges, either field wiring or regulator, or regulator not grounded

If not, either alternator, or output circuit. To determine that, check battery voltage against alternator output stud with your jumper hooked up, engine running "fast idle."

If the alternator stud is low (below 13) with the jumper hooked up, then bad alternator. If way high, above 15, you have an output circuit problem. Bulkhead connector, wiring, terminals, ammeter

If it charges with the jumper hooked up, move to field wiring. Hook green field wire back up to alternator. Disconnect the two VR wires and jumper them together. IF it now charges, replace VR

 

[69DARTS]

i did as instructed and seem to be charging now
thank u guys for the help

 

[slantsixdan]

If tapping on the voltage regulator makes it charge, you need a new voltage regulator pronto — yours is on borrowed time; it's going to fail again. Might fail with the points open (battery will die), might fail with the points closed (wiring will burn up). Neither is pleasant. Best get this one. Yes, it's more expensive than others. You can get a $10 regulator...but when it quits in the middle of the night, you'll wish you'd bought the expensive one!

It looks a little different than the original, that's fine, it bolts right in place and the wires hook right up. Take the opportunity to run a new ground wire from the atlernator housing (mounting bolt or self-tapping screw in the "GRD" hole on the back of the alt) to the voltage regulator base, and from the voltage regulator base to the battery negative terminal.

 

[69DARTS]

If tapping on the voltage regulator makes it charge, you need a new voltage regulator pronto — yours is on borrowed time; it's going to fail again. Might fail with the points open (battery will die), might fail with the points closed (wiring will burn up). Neither is pleasant. Best get this one. Yes, it's more expensive than others. You can get a $10 regulator...but when it quits in the middle of the night, you'll wish you'd bought the expensive one!

It looks a little different than the original, that's fine, it bolts right in place and the wires hook right up. Take the opportunity to run a new ground wire from the atlernator housing (mounting bolt or self-tapping screw in the "GRD" hole on the back of the alt) to the voltage regulator base, and from the voltage regulator base to the battery negative terminal.

Thank u very much for your help