The joys of a classic…

[Daly]

So tonight I was out at a local meet, first time out with the Coronet. All was fine until I go to leave, car won't start. I get it boosted, it starts but no lights. Lights when the booster pack is on, but not under it's own power. We track, what we think is, the problem down to a wire off the alternator that is burnt up. We fix it, I have lights for a few minutes but they dim down and soon nothing. To top this all off, there is coolant on the ground, haven't even found where that's coming from yet, still trying to figure out the electrical gremlin. I managed to limp it to a buddies house, where it'll sit for the night, but did so with no lights at just after dusk. Anyone experience this before, any idea where I should start? I'll get pics and more info tomorrow when we look at it again under day light, but I get the feeling I'm going to be going through the wiring harness on this car this winter…

 

[bkleenfltx]

obviously do a wiring inspection. IF you've replaced the alternator lately that would be the FIRST place I would look. Ground wires, clean wires....everything else? I'd go to the source first. Case in point I just put a rebuild alternator on mine. Worked fine at first....then left me stranded. checked all wires, grounds, cables on battery even checked the regulator. I swear out of literrally 30 cars I've done and 100 more I've worked on I've NEVER had this happen. The rebuilt alternator had a loose post from the back where your wiring attaches. The wiring was snug but the post was loose. Fixed it and NO problem. So as Bill Cox owner of the lawn mower shop said in Slingblade "hey say you're a whiz on fixing lawn mowers and things. Scooter, he's gonna knock you out of a job if you're not careful. Scooter see ...ya gotta check the simple things first.

 

[Daly]

I'm thinking I'm going to upgrade my amp gauge to a volt gauge while I'm figuring out this problem, is there a good diagram for the alternator and maybe a good how-to for the volt meter hook up? Also I'm hoping to post a pic to night and someone can tell me if the alternator in the car is correct. There are wires not hooked up and I'm lost when it comes to Mopars. Hoping someone can point me in the right direction…

 

[747mopar]

No wiring diagram needed to convert to a voltmeter, very simple. Take the 2 wires on the ammeter and butt them together bypassing the ammeter and the voltmeter just needs to be attached to any 12V source because it just reads the volts not amps. I'd drill out the bulkhead connector while your at it and run a new wire all the way threw just to be sure but. Like said I'd really dig threw that harness for shorts.

 

[Daly]

I plan to go through the harness, mostly because there are wires that go to nothing now and I'd like to get rid of them or find out what they are (were) for…

I was able to splice the wire back together and we checked the amps against the newer charged battery and found no draws. I'm confident theres no other shorts, but I'm going to check anyway. Either way it was enough to get it home…

 

[bkleenfltx]

Well this thread has some age, so I suppose the issue is resolved. Like you I took the 68 out for a test run to the cruise in. I noticed i kept looking back at the car..... realized I was wondering IF IT WOULD START....LOL!