Battery overcharging

[satellite66]

I have a problem with my electrical system. My battery is being overcharged. With the car running, a voltmeter reading of the battery reads 16.89 volts. The alternator is new (reman), the voltage regulator is new ( same symptoms when the old one was installed so the problem can't be the regulator), the battery is new, and I replaced the engine block to firewall groundstrap. I've checked and rechecked to make sure all the wire connections are in the right place so I am at a loss as to what is causing the overcharge. Any thoughts?

 

[tpodwdog]

did you check to see if your meter is accurate? is the battery bubbling or bulging??? ground the battery to the rad support with GOOD connections! im not an electrical guru but usually its the simplest things. check all the wire insulation..( im sure you have done this already)....you might have 2 bare wires rubbing against eachother by-passing the regulator over loading the battery directly. !

 

[lewtot184]

been thru this before. the regulator will create an overcharge if not grounded properly. you may need to clean some paint off the back side of the regulator where it bolts to the firewall. i run a separate ground wire for my regulator.

 

[satellite66]

I have two meters, one digital and one analog and they both give the same readings. My battery isn't bulging or bubbling yet, I won't run the car for very long because of this problem. I will double check the wire insulation though it all seems okay. I will definitely double check the ground of the regulator. There must be a ground wire for it though since both the old regulator and the new one produce the same symptom.

 

[70rr-brian]

I have two meters, one digital and one analog and they both give the same readings. My battery isn't bulging or bubbling yet, I won't run the car for very long because of this problem. I will double check the wire insulation though it all seems okay. I will definitely double check the ground of the regulator. There must be a ground wire for it though since both the old regulator and the new one produce the same symptom.

No ground wire...they mount to the firewall, its the metal to metal contact of the regulator to the firewall that is the ground....and as indicated by a previous poster....if the firewall is painted up all nice then you won't be making contact with the metal. Scuff some of the paint off or specifically run a wire to make sure it is grounded.

 

[satellite66]

Well I checked the ground wires and made sure the regulator was contacting bare metal and still the problem remains. I guess I'm just going to pull out the alternator and have it tested.

 

[green1]

Sounds like an alt field is grounded. Been there.