Alright guys I thought I had it all figured out but I don't. 1966 f100 with a 352 died last night on the highway. Before the trip I had 14.6 volts at idle with highbeams and heater blower on. 500 miles later, stopping every 150 miles for gas and checking oil, my lights die while on the highway, I pull over and everything is dead. I didn't see any loose connections, and then luckly an older lader stopped and gave me a jump. 100 miles more on it, and then driving around town today all is good. I went to advanced auto and used a meter and with highs and blower on it read 14.4 I've replaced the voltage regulator, cleaned alternator terminals, batter terminals, voltage regulator plug and ground and now I'm stumped. I figure id clean the frame and engine grounds, but that's all I can think of. When the truck died I had my gps pluged in, lights on and that's it. Any ideas guys? I'm in Ga on the way to billetproof and will be headed on the road again in the early am.
I would say if the battery is three years old, replace it. I have seen battery cables that had crud seep down inside the insulation and rot out most of the wire.
start with cleaning the grounds, check the batt cables, & battery connectors, my sons jeep would do something similer- if you can move the batt conn on the posts- not good connection, clean & tighten
Newer battery and clean as hell terminals. I cleaned the grounds to the frame and engine, hopefully that does it.
Are you running a separated voltage regulator ? If you are maybe the points got stuck open for a while and the battery discharged . Retro Jim
I had brushes sticking in the alternator once and used to tap the alternator until i could replace them.
Hmm that may be it, I snugged the belt up and looked at it today. I have no idea how old the belt is. The voltage regulator is the one on the core support with four spade connectors in a thin rectangular plug. The alternator is pretty new, and did fine in my falcon. Not saying it may not be acting Up
keep the volt meter hooked up and start wiggling connections. sounds like a bad connection somewhere.
Clean and sand down the area around where the voltage regulator mounts as it uses it's "feet"/mounting locations whatever you want to call them to ground itself.
Here is how I check an alt belt , with the engine OFF and no one inside the car I try to spin the alt pulley . If it spins , it's loose or the belt is worn out ! Retro Jim
And, make sure the belt is the correct width and not riding to deep in the alternator pulley. The belt should not be riding on the inner face, but rather the sides where it contacts the pulley. The belt will look fine and may not even make noise, but the slipping will heat the alternator pulley up so bad it will destroy the alternator. All that is needed is a belt change. I doubt that is your problem, but worth checking and this is not uncommon. Outlaw
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