Tweet
So I have a strange issue lately. I have a 1970 miller. The previous owner had converted the ext regulator over to an internal unit. The alt has a red wire running directly to the positive side of the battery. I ran it for over a year without any issues. Now the gen light comes on, I stop and have the system check to see if it is no longer charging, but it shows fine. The light would just stay on while driving...no big deal. Now the light stays on after I shut her down and pull the key out of the ignition. If I don't disconnect the battery it will drain it. The old regulator is still attached and hooked up. Could it have gone bad? Any thoughts?
-
-
If it's converted to an internal, then the external should not be hooked up also. -
Hmmm...nice articles but I don't see a diagram for upgrading an alt to an internal. If i disconnect the voltage regulator won;t that make the gen light stay on?Originally posted by northgahearse View PostComment
-
i have done it to one of my cars now i just have to remember just what i did ...Originally posted by Custom Coffin Works View Post
i also on my 70 had the light stay on after i put the motor back in but i also do the REMOTE VOLTAGE-SENSING thing it helps alot but i found i had the alt lead going to my remote sensing spot and to the battery once i removed it from the battery all was fine ... let me look at mine tonight to remember what i did to take out the voltage regulator ...
also look here i found it all in one of theses
oops here it is
Comment
-
Post a few pics of your alt, so we can see what style it is.
Normally, it's a super easy mod.Comment
-
The problem may or may not have anything to do with the charging system. If it is a Cadillac chassis, check the hi-fan relay.
-dComment
-
I searched for it with no luck! Where is it?Comment
-
Probably plugs into the fusebox.
-dComment
-
What I used to do on the hotrods was pull the external regulator wiring, then install a standard 3-wire GM alternator with internal regulator (a double pin plug-in on the top & a single pole on the back) and make it a self-exciting alternator by bridging the 2 top pins & then running a single 6 or 8 gauge wire to the battery from the threaded pole on the back of the alternator (usually has a red plastic ring around it). Main thing is tracing back the old external regulator wires, find where they go, label them, and tape them off while you test the new 1 wire alternator setup. They sell 1 wire alternators at alot of hotrod outlets but all they do is bridge the 2 top leads & you can do that yourself. It's a clean look with only 1 wire from the alternator to the battery and alot less hassle. Hopefully you don't have a short somewhere causing this misery...Comment
-
I now need to find the horn relay. I need to run a wire from it to the battery, but can't find it. Any suggestions?Comment
-
I don't remember if they hid it down by the fusebox or under the hood, but here's what it looks like... happy hunting!
Comment
-
Horn relay should be just barely under the edge of the carpet below the steering column mounted to the firewall.
As for the charging issue: I have swapped many an external regulated GM alternator for the later internal regulated version. Here's the cliff notes...
The alternator itself is a bolt in, mount it and tension the belt. The big post on the back of the old alternator had a large gauge wire running to the battery. This wire stays the same.
The new alternator has two pins on the side fo the case near the back. These are labeled "1" and "2". Pin 2 connects to the large threaded post on the back of the alternator. Put the nut on and tighten it down. Pin 1 will need a length of wire that can be routed to the old voltage regulator. Unplug the regulator, locate the brown wire (on most GM models) in the wide connector. Attatch the wire from pin 1 to this wire. You're done! Tape things up and make it pretty...Comment
-
Some of the Cadillac models have a combination horn relay and key buzzer...as crazy as that sounds, and it is probably under the carpet below the steering column.
-dComment
-
Found it just up to the left of the brake pedal. Corroded and looking bad. AutoZone doesn't list it as available anymore....Hmm.....Comment
Comment