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Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? #1261888 07/04/12 09:59 PM 07/04/12 09:59 PM
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI kz5rt2 OP member
kz5rt2 OP member Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI	Hello All, I have been having an intermittent, more so lately than not, when the amp gauge pegs to full charge when I step on the throttle (light or heavy). I put a voltmeter across the battery terminals when this was happening and the voltmeter read out 17.5 Volts. I have verified the following: 1) Made sure all wiring is correct. 2) swapped voltage regulator with a new one. 3) made sure all connections were properly connected. Any suggestions?

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: kz5rt2] #1261889 07/04/12 10:51 PM 07/04/12 10:51 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: I have been having an intermittent, a loose connection. I'd check the ammeter terminals and check/clean the bulkhead brass terminals and alt brushes live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: RapidRobert] #1261890 07/04/12 11:17 PM 07/04/12 11:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI kz5rt2 OP member
kz5rt2 OP member Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI	I just checked and rechecked all connections, they all seem to be okay. Even added a jumper to ground the voltage regulator just in case. I started it twice. First time, everything seemed okay held constant at 14v. Second time, it approached ~17.5v again during the revs. Any ideas????????????

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: kz5rt2] #1261891 07/04/12 11:24 PM 07/04/12 11:24 PM
Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,551 baldwinsville new york A a493demon pro stock
a493demon pro stock A Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,551 baldwinsville new york	maybe the plug to the reg. going bad . i'm pretty sure napa sell's the plug.

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: kz5rt2] #1261892 07/05/12 01:04 AM 07/05/12 01:04 AM
Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 3,892 Oregon hooziewhatsit master
hooziewhatsit master Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 3,892 Oregon	If it's going full output that means the Field wire is being grounded somewhere. Disconnect both wires to the Alt and see if it still happens. Then add the blue wire and check. Then add the Green wire (and make sure the Green wire isn't shorted to ground). If you ever find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: hooziewhatsit] #1261893 07/05/12 02:51 AM 07/05/12 02:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md 3 383man Too Many Posts
383man Too Many Posts 3 Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 27,421 Balt. Md	Quote: If it's going full output that means the Field wire is being grounded somewhere. Disconnect both wires to the Alt and see if it still happens. Then add the blue wire and check. Then add the Green wire (and make sure the Green wire isn't shorted to ground). That is right as it is overcharging. You did not say what year it is because if its old enough it could have the one wire field with a mechanical reg. Ron

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: 383man] #1261894 07/05/12 10:15 AM 07/05/12 10:15 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,726 North Dakota 6PakBee I Live Here
6PakBee I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,726 North Dakota	Check your wiring harness from the alternator to the bulkhead connector carefully. I had one case where an intake manifold bolt had rubbed through the tape then through the insulation on the battery lead in the harness. The bolt intermittantly grounded the lead and caused the type of problem you are describing. Now with you measuring 17.5 volts when it happens I doubt if this is the exact case. It would help to know if it is an isolated field alternator (two field wire) or grounded field alternator (one field wire) as it seems something in the field circuit is the culprit. "We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: 6PakBee] #1261895 07/05/12 11:04 AM 07/05/12 11:04 AM
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI kz5rt2 OP member
kz5rt2 OP member Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI	The setup I have is a three wire as you are describing. I pulled the green field wire off and the over charging still existed. When I pulled off the blue wire, the problem went away. Does anybody know if the blue wire from alternator goes into the bulkhead?

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: kz5rt2] #1261896 07/05/12 11:27 AM 07/05/12 11:27 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: I pulled the green field wire off and the over charging still existed. Does anybody know if the blue wire from alternator goes into the bulkhead? (1) since you removed the green wire from the alt that the reg grounds and it it still full fielding that tells me that the field circuit is being improperly/intermittently grounded inside the alt. Check the brushes then open it up & see what you see. (2) yes the blue wire goes to the reg then T's to the bulkhead for switched 12V in the "run" circuit live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: RapidRobert] #1261897 07/05/12 11:48 AM 07/05/12 11:48 AM
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI kz5rt2 OP member
kz5rt2 OP member Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI	That makes, sense. I began having issues with it when I put this new rebuilt alt. in about a year ago. The car had no electrical issues whatsoever. I just took off the bulkhead and here's a pic. The wire that is all burned is the large output wire off the alt. Any more thoughts, ideas of how or why this would burn? 7278344-IMG_2011.JPG (70 downloads)

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: RapidRobert] #1261898 07/05/12 12:37 PM 07/05/12 12:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,726 North Dakota 6PakBee I Live Here
6PakBee I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,726 North Dakota	Quote: Quote: I pulled the green field wire off and the over charging still existed. Does anybody know if the blue wire from alternator goes into the bulkhead? (1) since you removed the green wire from the alt that the reg grounds and it it still full fielding that tells me that the field circuit is being improperly/intermittently grounded inside the alt. Check the brushes then open it up & see what you see. (2) yes the blue wire goes to the reg then T's to the bulkhead for switched 12V in the "run" circuit Remove the brusholder for the terminal the green lead was on and check it for damage. "We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: 6PakBee] #1261899 07/05/12 12:58 PM 07/05/12 12:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,942 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,942 Grand Prairie,Texas	That is the main fed and over time the current going through it causes the terminals to loosen and creates resistance burning the terminals. Install new terminals on the wires that go into both sides of the plug.

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: kz5rt2] #1261900 07/05/12 01:06 PM 07/05/12 01:06 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: The wire that is all burned is the large output wire off the alt. Any more thoughts, ideas of how or why this would burn? It burns from too much current and or a bad connection at the male/female brass terminal interface. push the 4 corner clips in so the rear bulkhead half can come out to the rear and use an eyeglass mini screwdriver to release the locking tab on the brass terminal (do both bulkhead halves). NAPA has 1/4" brass replacement male and female terminals 735147/725145. Solder and crimp new ones in & if the bulkhead is melted to the point where it will not secure the brass terminals you can just run a wire(s) & bypass the 2 large in/out connections which is always a good idea. Use dielectric grease on the brass terminals. Lift the locking tab on each new brass terminal up slightly from "flush" so when you pull the terminal/wire down into the bulkhead it will "snap" and lock the terminal in place. Do check out the alt first & get the full fielding squared away what ever is causing it. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: RapidRobert] #1261901 07/05/12 02:34 PM 07/05/12 02:34 PM
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI kz5rt2 OP member
kz5rt2 OP member Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 121 Detroit, MI	The alternator I installed was 100amp at least, do you guys think that would have caused this. Too much output?

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: kz5rt2] #1261902 07/05/12 02:56 PM 07/05/12 02:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,445 So Cal Sinitro master
Sinitro master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,445 So Cal	The Mopar OE bulkhead terminals and housing was designed to handle only up to about 50 Amps @ best.. If running a bigger alternator than it is suggested to changeover the Amp guage to a Voltmeter, and run heavier direct wires rather than the 0.25" tab connectors. Also is the alternator a 1 wire system? Or are you still using the Mopar OE voltage regulator? If running the Mopar OE voltage regulator, be careful as the voltage/current for the field circuit increases significantly and can cause additional electrical/reliability issues. Just my $0.02..

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: kz5rt2] #1261903 07/05/12 03:14 PM 07/05/12 03:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,840 The Swamp S Sixpak master
Sixpak master S Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,840 The Swamp	Bypass the connections for the heavy red and heavy black that go into the stock firewall connector. Drill a new hole, put a rubber grommet on it, and make new connections. Clip them where they go into the plug in connector, both on the engine side and under the dash. Heavy black off alternator feeds juice to dash and back thru heavy red to recharge battery. Heavy red feeds juice from battery to dash and everything else when engine isn't running. This is a long known problem spot for many years. Even the factory knew this in the 60's - the fleet vehicles they sold had this done at the factory, for things like taxis. The rest of the connectors can be removed from their plug, wire brushed, greased up and put back into their harness plug. I do this on all old Mopars I work on. The grease really helps prevent corrosion.

Re: Amp Gauge Pegs During Acceleration??? [Re: Sixpak] #1261904 07/05/12 07:49 PM 07/05/12 07:49 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,012 indiana M mcmopars super stock
mcmopars super stock M Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,012 indiana	Quote: Bypass the connections for the heavy red and heavy black that go into the stock firewall connector. Drill a new hole, put a rubber grommet on it, and make new connections. Clip them where they go into the plug in connector, both on the engine side and under the dash. Heavy black off alternator feeds juice to dash and back thru heavy red to recharge battery. Heavy red feeds juice from battery to dash and everything else when engine isn't running. This is a long known problem spot for many years. Even the factory knew this in the 60's - the fleet vehicles they sold had this done at the factory, for things like taxis. The rest of the connectors can be removed from their plug, wire brushed, greased up and put back into their harness plug. I do this on all old Mopars I work on. The grease really helps prevent corrosion. good advise.follow

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