Ive been racking my brain on this, The darn thing wont charge. I can test the wire off the switch, its got 12 volts with key on, but it also has continuity with the ground. I have it unplugged at altornator, and I set my DVOM so the alarm sounds when testing for continuity so I can hear it to test for good wires. Well, I test the blue wire, or the key on middle wire on the voltage regulator and I hear the beeeeeep. So from this do I have a short to ground somewhere on that wire?

Kasey

dumb question but did you check all of the charging system w/ a volt meter? Start at the battery and work yourself around? If it's all good the I guess you have a bad draw some where...

Yes, and with the DVOM, all I found so far is what I would consider a short to ground possibly in my ignition wire or blue wire. I also noticed when the engine was running and I was testing I pulled the wire off the altornator and I got a decent arc. but only charged at 12.4 volts.

I guess I dont have a new altornator, but its not very old and I cant see the altornator being the issue.

Ill see if I can fint another one at home tonight and see if thats my issue.

I have a MSD billet distributor, so my balast resistor isnt hooked up, and Im useing the wire at the balast to give me ignition feed to the MSD box. Could that be causing my issue? Do I need to find a new 12 volt ignition feed to the MSD?

Kasey

Just a shot in the dark, you've checked the fusible links? You SURE?

Robert

Wellllll

No, I guess I tugged on them, but not very hard.

Also the factory ground is on the smog pump bracket, maybe it's not grounded so great now??? If you've had the MSD for a while w/ no isues I'd say it's not the MSD, buttttt if you just installed the MSD and you have a problem now then it's something you did/didn't do during installation.

Just to clarify guys, This is NOT stock, has the 440 in it. The grounds are made by me and theres a bunch of them. I havent checked the fuseable links close enough, and Ill start there. Nothing is in relation to where it should be.

LOL

I did have a poped fuse link, 20 guage wire, I just jumped that as a test and still nothing, Ill have to get down and dirty with it tomarrow.

Might hard wire the thing from scratch and see if it works that way as a test, the go from there.

Thanks guys.

Oh, Im gonna eliminate the fuse links ASAP!!

LOL

remove the 2 (blue/green) field terminals from the alt male field terminals and with the throttle on fast idle with headlights/AC on, jump from the batt positive post to either male alt field terminal then with your VOM connected to the large "batt" alt output stud then also jump from the other alt male field terminal to ground for 3 seconds MAX, just long enough for you to take a reading on the meter & if it's 15+ volts the alt is good. Reconnect the 2 field leads. When the key is "on" (ign1 switched 12V) check if you have near batt voltage at (1) the blue wire field terminal at the alt and (2) the blue wire at the reg connector & it's the top wire with the connector triangle facing "up" like a pyramid. if not hot at both then find/fix the open. If both are hot take off the green wire connector from its' alt male field terminal (one of the 2 you prior removed then replaced) and with a jumper wire jump the green wire male terminal to ground for 3 seconds MAX like before at a fast idle/accessories on, & if it charges then (1) the reg is bad (2) the reg ain't grounded) (3) there's an open in the green wire from alt to reg & note on #3 that unless there's been excessive amperage flow or the insulation has been cut/pinched/chafed, and no excessive flexing that has broken some strands, wires go bad at the terminals/connections at the ends as normal electron flow does not age/harm copper wiring strands so look at the green field alt female connector and on the other end of it the reg plug in for an open/loose connection. Holler how it goes EDIT when doing the 3 second full fielding it's a good precaution to have all light bulbs off and with a jumper cable to connect the alt output "batt" stud to the batt positive post (or starter relay large "batt" stud)

Removing the fusible links is a bad idea. They keep the rest of the wiring from letting out the magic smoke.

Its been a while since I worked on an 88 Ramcharger but I do believe there was no external regulator on that year. It basically works the same as the external reg but the PCM controls the charging system on all the 88 Trucks I remember. But only the 5.9 might still have an external reg since the 5.9 truck still used a carb in 88 so it may have had an external reg but I would have to look at the wire diagrahm to be sure. The 3.9 and 5.2 were both throttle body fuel inj in 88. Ron

Stumpy, I think you mis understood my post, Im going to replace them with water proof fuse connectors and update them to a new spade fuse.

Id never eliminate them.

Well guys, Thanks for all your help and sugestions. I used Rapidroberts test proceedures and the altornators fine, tested the VR, which is a brand new unit from MOPAR, and its bad. Cant believe it, decide to buy from ma MoPar and get bit. Well looks like Ill just get either another one or get a refund and buy a "junk" napa unit.

LOL

Charged good with the VR I had in my tool box that I didnt trust.

kool,if the one you dont trust is working..why buy another one right now?

The reason I dont trust it is because there is a gap behind it that will wick in water and I dont want that mess. I also plan on mounting 2 VRs on the truck since Ive seen way to many failures with the new cheap VR that are sold now days. Case in point my brand new unit from MoPar.

I might use the one as the back up and squirt some silicone in the cracks.

Kasey

If it ever acts up again & goes to max charge as opposed to zero charging (bad VR's can do one or the other) I would unplug it till you make it home. Slightly deep cycle discharging the batt is WAY less damaging than full fielding the system. glad ya got it squared away.

No thank you guys. I was getting good tests and still not charging, I would have never guessed a new name brand part would be bad outa the box!!