Alternator charging @ 18 Volts

[ricdiculous]

my alternator is charging my battery at just under 18 Volts. In fact, acid bubbles out of the vents on top of the battery.

after driving a while it seems to level out and go back to a normal charge. (reading 0 on the ammeter).

think it'll blow up the battery?

the battery doesn't get hot, nor do the cables?

I'ma rock it around in the snow here in a bit and see if something heinous happens.

i hope not, don't feel like cleaning up an exploded battery.

[babywag]

Unless you want to replace your battery, I'd fix the problem.
Overcharging the battery will kill it in a pretty short time frame.

[Tornado230]

Chrysler mini-vans were notorious for overcharging, resulting in exploding battery.
Fix the problem ASAP.
You will probably find that the battery case is bulged.
Don't stand over it (the battery) while the motor is running.

[joe]

Shut it down. Prolly regulator is kaput.

[ricdiculous]

yeah, i plan on replacing the battery anyway. is the regulator built in to the alternator on grand wags? it's an 84 by the way. it really only over charges after start up but that's too much in my opinion.

thanks.

[joe]

In 84 it's prolly an internal regulator but not sure.

[FSJ Guy]

An 84 should have the internal regulator.

You can get a simple rebuild kit, too, for about $20-$30.

I'd have the alternator checked first. There could be something wrong with your wiring that is causing the alternator to put out too much voltage.

[ricdiculous]

i think it might be a problem with the wire that's a 15 ohm resistor or whatever the heck it is. i'm going to check that out first. i did see the rebuild kits for 15 bux. i have two extra 94 amp alternators so even a rebuild would cost more than just throwing on one of the others. but if it is that wire throwing on another alt won't fix it.

gonna read the service manual about that wire when i sober up enough.

[Tatsadasayago]

A battery that is beginning to short between the plates will cause this as well.

[andy d]

dont mess around. If you are fiddling under the hood and a spark touches off the battery , you will get a bath in sulphuric acid. I knew a guy who lost an eye from this.

[cocurtiss]

could I possibly pick one of those extra alternators off of you?

[gsmikie]

just hook a 6 volt battery up to the 12 volt battery =18 volts yea that should do it thast the ticket

[ricdiculous]

it was a bad alternator.

replaced it, all good.

i have another 94 amp alt i'll sell for 30 bux to whomever was asking about it. pm me and we'll do it up.

[ricdiculous]

so the new alternator did great for about a day and a half, then it started overcharging like crazy too.

turned out i had the field wires reversed.

yeah, i'm a jackass.