Charging issue

[340RT]

I am working on my brother's 66 BVD II.This spring the alternator went out.No problem I had a good one laying around.We replaced the voltage reg.just to be safe.Everything was fine till 2wks ago. Was checking if it would run when I took the positive battery.cable.. the car would stop running. Some history of events this spring.
1. battery dead,checked alternator-it was bad -replaced with one I had laying around.
2replaced voltage regulator
3. washed engine at car wash-voltage meter started jumping around.
4.Drove it around and the voltage meter pegged.-melted some wires under dash.
5.replaced some wires under dash
6 Cannot get battery to charge now.

 

[69 Runner]

Sounds very similar to what happened to my Duster....including the part about washing the engine. Problem with my Duster is to may idiots hacking harnesses in the past. And after spending a week trying to straighten things out, I've decided to replace the engine, dash, and tail light harnesses.....all of which have been hacked at some point.

My dash harness is hacked to the point the car WILL NOT RUN unless the aftermarket ammeter is hooked up. Lord only knows what else is trashed.

In your case I'm guessing there was water in the bulkhead connector that caused a short. Hopefully you won't need to go to the extremes I am to straighten things out.

 

[340RT]

Ahhh!--no

Lil brother took out dash real quick and put in aftermarket guage.Still had same problem.But hey that aftermarket guage sure looked cool!
thanks.
we are taking the alternator to local parts store to be checked tomorrow.
Pic:lil brother getting good at taking out the dash!:grin:

 

[340RT]

Alternator good,pulling fuse box out now.Just looking for obviuos damage.I need to learn how to use this electric multitester.Only thing I know is how to test battery and continuity.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Remove all the connectors at the bulkhead and clean them with a small wire brush or a scraper. And for that matter clean everything you see that is connected to something. You may even want to squeeze the spade lugs so they scratch the male connector for a better contact. High resistance at a connection will produce heat and melt the plastic holder or the wire insulation where it joins the connector. It's possible your field wire isn't making good contact thereby causing a non charging situation.

I also have a 66 Bel II and the gauges were not working consistently so the first thing I did was remove the dash and cleaned the PC board. I also cleaned the bulkhead connector. No problems since.