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69 Coronet Charging System Blues #1496360 09/04/13 09:34 PM 09/04/13 09:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA Erik OP master
Erik OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA	Took my new Coronet out for the first cruise and it didn't go so well. When I got it, the battery was dead, so I charged it up and everything looked fine. When I drove it, the ammeter needle stayed slightly below the middle, and dropped when I braked or signaled. Typical for an old car. Yet when it sits for a day or two the battery drains again. I got it jumped for the trip home, but it is definitely running off the battery and not the alternator. Any ideas as to why it would drain when it is not being used? Someone told me the ammeter connections could be loose and that is draining it. I think it's a bit more complicated since the system won't recharge the battery when it's running. Someone already replaced the ballast resistor with another incorrect one that gets very hot. I'm thinking I need to replace it again and maybe the voltage regulator. What tests can I do to isolate the problem before I go spending lots of $$? Thanks! 1970 Challenger Convertible soon to be T/A convertible Contrary to the opinions of some, I am not dumber than I look.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Erik] #1496361 09/04/13 11:12 PM 09/04/13 11:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 17 oklahoma 6 69suprbee member
69suprbee member 6 Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 17 oklahoma	Sounds familiar.my 69 bee went thru some similar problems.1 st thing would be to see what voltage you get at battery with car running.should be somewhere in the 13.5 to 14.5 area,if its in the 12 area you're not charging.voltage reg is a suspect.these old cars suffer from voltage drops sometimes from bulkhead connections.be sure connections are clean and tight at bulkhead and then put some dielectric grease on them.could of course be an alternator problem if its not charging.time to get the volt meter out.good luck.btw you might look up the mad electric ammeter bypass.best thing I have done to my bee.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Erik] #1496362 09/05/13 02:56 AM 09/05/13 02:56 AM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,202 Bend,OR USA C Cab_Burge I Win
Cab_Burge I Win C Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,202 Bend,OR USA	All 1969 brand Mopars are famous for wiring problems, as already suggested to you check the back nuts on the ammeter first before replacing any other parts, second thing is to check both sides of the bulkhead connectors for both amp wires, in and out and then check the battery voltage with the key off anf agian with the motor running revved up beyond 1200 RPM, if it isn't reading more than 12.75 volts revved up find out why Make sure the alternator belt is tight, real tight Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Cab_Burge] #1496363 09/05/13 10:55 AM 09/05/13 10:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA Erik OP master
Erik OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA	Thanks for the replies. I have spare ballast resistors and voltage regulators, so I know what I'll be doing this weekend! 1970 Challenger Convertible soon to be T/A convertible Contrary to the opinions of some, I am not dumber than I look.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Erik] #1496364 09/05/13 11:40 AM 09/05/13 11:40 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,677 A Andrewh master
Andrewh master A Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,677	can't see how the balast or vr would cause a sitting drain. if you aren't charging at all, then I agree, the vr needs to be looked at. but back up and run a few tests first. as said above, find out what voltage you see when it is running, and reved up to say 2k, at the battery. if it is as simple as that, then good. but if you are charging, you might start taking a look at what possible drains you have going. a light on you don't see or power bleeding through some switch, or something wired incorrectly. I know many people leave their older stocker type cars sitting for months without having to charge up the battery to run.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Andrewh] #1496365 09/05/13 12:22 PM 09/05/13 12:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,936 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,936 Grand Prairie,Texas	Ballast resistor has nothing to do with charging and they are supposed to be hot. Resistance causes heat.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Andrewh] #1496366 09/05/13 01:05 PM 09/05/13 01:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA Erik OP master
Erik OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA	I have a few ideas as to what the drain is as the car has a lot of aftermarket gauges, radio etc that I know are not wired correctly. I will also check the ammeter nuts as suggested. It is not charging at all, so I'm confident the VR needs to be checked and possibly replaced. I will also check the alternator to make sure it's not the problem as well. I have extras of all of this stuff so I will be able to identify the problem without going and spending lots of time and $$. It has an incorrect ballast wired in bypassing the correct one which is still on the firewall. 1970 Challenger Convertible soon to be T/A convertible Contrary to the opinions of some, I am not dumber than I look.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Erik] #1496367 09/05/13 02:15 PM 09/05/13 02:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,454 Morristown Tn. 7 71birdJ68 master
71birdJ68 master 7 Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,454 Morristown Tn.	I know this sounds crazy, but do you still have points init?

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Erik] #1496368 09/05/13 03:21 PM 09/05/13 03:21 PM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,202 Bend,OR USA C Cab_Burge I Win
Cab_Burge I Win C Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,202 Bend,OR USA	Quote: I have a few ideas as to what the drain is as the car has a lot of aftermarket gauges, radio etc that I know are not wired correctly. I will also check the ammeter nuts as suggested. It is not charging at all, so I'm confident the VR needs to be checked and possibly replaced. I will also check the alternator to make sure it's not the problem as well. I have extras of all of this stuff so I will be able to identify the problem without going and spending lots of time and $$. It has an incorrect ballast wired in bypassing the correct one which is still on the firewall. Is your alternator a single field or dual field unit? If dual field make sure both feild wires have voltage on them with the key on and the motor not running If not fix that first now the other thing to do is to check the output voltage from the alternator with teh engien running at the back of the alternator on the big wire Let us know what you find No magic in this stuff, just problems Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Cab_Burge] #1496369 09/05/13 03:45 PM 09/05/13 03:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	2 potential problems (1) what Cab said see what your charging voltage is at the batt (2) With everything off at midnight take off a batt cable from either the neg or the positive batt post & if you see a spark there is something on that shouldn't be on that is draining the system. I think it's related to #1 but do check. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: 71birdJ68] #1496370 09/05/13 04:36 PM 09/05/13 04:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA Erik OP master
Erik OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA	Quote: I know this sounds crazy, but do you still have points init? Yes, still has points 1970 Challenger Convertible soon to be T/A convertible Contrary to the opinions of some, I am not dumber than I look.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Erik] #1496371 09/05/13 08:21 PM 09/05/13 08:21 PM
Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,262 Groveland, MA SteveS top fuel
SteveS top fuel Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,262 Groveland, MA	A bad diode in the alternator can cause current drain when off, and interfere with charging. Steve Someday I'll have another C-body.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: SteveS] #1496372 09/07/13 02:49 PM 09/07/13 02:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA Erik OP master
Erik OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA	Alternator was shot. Hopefully that was it! 1970 Challenger Convertible soon to be T/A convertible Contrary to the opinions of some, I am not dumber than I look.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: RapidRobert] #1496373 09/08/13 12:08 AM 09/08/13 12:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,437 Omaha Nebraska Brian_wo master
Brian_wo master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,437 Omaha Nebraska	Quote: 2 potential problems (1) what Cab said see what your charging voltage is at the batt (2) With everything off at midnight take off a batt cable from either the neg or the positive batt post & if you see a spark there is something on that shouldn't be on that is draining the system. I think it's related to #1 but do check. or in the middle of the day pull the same cable off and put a test light between the cable and the battery and if it lights up there is a draw. who is that guy?

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Erik] #1496374 09/08/13 01:00 AM 09/08/13 01:00 AM
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,454 Morristown Tn. 7 71birdJ68 master
71birdJ68 master 7 Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,454 Morristown Tn.	Ok, hope that fixes it. The thing with the points, my 318 69 when the points would start going bad, the amp better would act crazy, way over charging and other stuff. Then if I put new points in it was ok.

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: 71birdJ68] #1496375 09/08/13 01:11 AM 09/08/13 01:11 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 29,654 Hamtramck, PA A Alaskan_TA Fluffy Balladeer
Alaskan_TA Fluffy Balladeer A Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 29,654 Hamtramck, PA	If they may help at all; http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/MTSC/1969/ChargingSystem-05.shtml

Re: 69 Coronet Charging System Blues [Re: Alaskan_TA] #1496376 09/10/13 09:28 AM 09/10/13 09:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA Erik OP master
Erik OP master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,288 Stroudsburg, PA	New alternator and the charging system is back to normal. Now to figure out why the reverse lights keep blowing the fuse! 1970 Challenger Convertible soon to be T/A convertible Contrary to the opinions of some, I am not dumber than I look.

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