Volt Meter

[SLINKY]

I was headed out last nite and noticed my volt meter was at 10 volts mark way down in the red. Kinda worried me.

Thinking my system wasn't charging
headlights were bright not yellow
all things worked properly, turn signals, radio, heater

I was thinking when i went to start it the next time i'd might have a sluggish start and the battery might not be charged. But that wasn't the case, it started just fine.

Looking at the meter with headlights off it was in at the 12 mark, still in the red, turned on headlights and it dropped to 10.

any clues?

[SLINKY]

think i need a new alternator?
87 GW 360

[Damage, Inc.]

yep...or the voltage regulator is shot.

[Kenall]

voltage reg for sure.
i myself splurged in this situation and got one of those GM hi amp alts from a 85 caprice. only had to change the pully and i got 120A for 1$ per amp. less if u got used.

[tuckers89GW]

slap a volt meter on your battery while running. My meter always shows very little charge. at the battery with a meter it shows 14.5. Your meter could be going bad.

[SLINKY]

where is the voltage regulator,

i can get a 94 amp alternator for 65 bucks

but where's the voltage regulator? is it in the alternator like it was one one of my other mopar products?

I can't get outside to go take a look till after late tonite. MR. Mom here

[ March 12, 2003, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: SLINKY ]

[Bob Barry]

It's integral to the alternator. Replace the alternator, and you also replace the regulator.

[fitron74]

Slinky,
It is possible to replace just the voltage regulator if you can split the alternator casing to get at the regulator. It shows how to do this in the Haynes manual for full-size Jeeps. Check it out.
Fitron74

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Yes it is possible to replace just the reg. in the alt, but for the most part a rebuilt at a Franchise Parts store with lifetime warrenty looks a little more atractive then messing around with the old one. Its not that much for a rebuilt. Take in the old one and have it tested for free too.

[SLINKY]

no guys sorry i just wanted to make sure it was in the alternator,

I have another old car "corvair" and the volt reg. is on the firewall and wanted to make sure it wasn't 2 different parts. thanks for the help. new alternator coming tonite, 94 amp for 64 bucks.

friend of the family works for a auto parts wharehouse, basically where the auto parts store get thier parts from.

wanted to make sure he didn't have to bring me 2 different parts

[ March 12, 2003, 11:32 AM: Message edited by: SLINKY ]