Intermittent overcharge

[68blue]

Had the overcharge problem with a low battery which I thought I had corrected but coming home today after a fun evening driving with no issues, the alternator pegged going up the hill to my house, steep grade 100 feet up in 1000 run. Something loose or maybe battery electrolyte not working the same with the sharp angle?

[resq302]

Could be something shorting out which would cause the sudden spike in the ammeter.  I would check all your wires for any worn or frayed wires that could move and do a direct ground which would cause that problem.

[68blue]

Worked on this today looking for bad connections. Topped off battery, reattached ground then started car, same issue, idle only without overcharging. Wife checked voltage 14-14.5, increase RPM after about 30 seconds, amp gauge snaps back to middle, increase RPM further no change in voltage or gauge. Let car  drop to idle and problem restarts.

New Powermaster 75 amp alternator two pulley two wire, rigged in single wire fashion. New voltage regulator as well. Hate intermittent problems, but life is full of them.

thoughts?

[resq302]

Did this problem start after you replaced anything?

[68blue]

Problem has been with the car off and on since I rebuilt it. Just starting to drive it more now that I'm done. I'm grinding paint behind the VR mounting tabs as a start.

[440]

Replace the VR with a solid state unit ASAP. I had a similar situation not that long ago. I checked the charging system while the car was running and it was holding 14 volts, all is good. A couple minutes later the ammeter gauges starts fogging up then started smoking. Checked charging voltage again and it spiked to 17v+. Turned out the VR was intermittently making contact and a jolt or knock would make it either work or not, which was a chain reaction and wiped out the cluster regulator.

The gauges in my car were dead when I got it and I suspect it was the VR all along, can't beat solid state for piece of mind and protection.

[Chryco Psycho]

I would suspect the alt , I have had Powermasters last as long as 3 hrs !!

[68blue]

Checked and improved ground on the alternator and voltage regulator, car started fine, drove down the road for 10 minutes no issues, when I slow down to make a turn, overcharge problem starts. Pull over watch gauge, after a minute everything fine. Drive down road for another 10 minutes, no issues, slow down for driveway, problem starts over again. Must have something to do with alternator speed dropping. Thoughts? I ready to remove both the regulator and alternator and start over.

[Back N Black]

I had the same problem, it was the alternator and it was only 6 months old. Damn Mopars 

[68blue]

Replaced new voltage regulator, problem gone.

[440]

  Now go enjoy it