Polarization, not getting a charge

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70DartMike

70DartMike

Too many projects
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After switching the /6 to a 318, hooked everything back up, everything worked like it should. I put in electronic ignition, orange box from Mopar Performance, just a stock coil. Put in an alternator that i had used before on the /6, and not a new battery but one i had used on another car previously that still has lots of life.
The problem is: the car runs for a while and the Amp gauge shows the car is charging, but after a while it all of a sudden switches to decharging. So I switched alternators, and had a repeated scenario. Car charged at first, then later started to decharge. I heard someone mention once that if you unhook the alternator and other electrical things, you need to re polarize something after hooking them back up? does this sound at all familiar?
 
First of all the stock amp gauge is a poor indicater. Get a multimeter.
It is working like it should, replaced battery charge lost to the starter then falls back to system voltage 12.8 to 13.2.
You probably have a either a bad diode in the alternater or its not turning fast enough.
 
Alternators should work even if they have been sitting in a box for years on a parts shelf, it was only the old generators that needed polorizing sometimes if disconnected for a long time.Like others said probably volt reg or possibly wiring issue connected to it.
 
If when you swapped out the motor you banged or bumped the bulkhead connector it will cause you some charging grief. I would check it to make sure the bulkhead connector isn't loose, or corroded.
 
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