charging system is charging to much

[ussdodge]

I've got a 73 charger that is charging at 15 volts constantly. alt has checked out o.k., volt reg. was new, changed anyway. Can anyone send a diagram to help out??? It's the only thing I want to fix before I put her to bed for the winter!!!Jeff

[Plumcrazy]

Unplug the voltage regulator and check the voltage.   If it stops overcharging, replace the regulator with a Mopar unit.  I'm not a big fan of aftermarket electronics.

[ussdodge]

Thanks Plum Crazy, I've Tried that and felt it was the problem, changed it to a new unit, and bam 15 volts again. The wiring is a tad brittle, I'm concerned that the harness is touching off inside the wrap. I'll be testing continuity after disconnecting the green and blue from the alternator and from th V.R.,  The wiring from this car is not troublesome as of yet, but at 34 years young, I'm not waiting for bad things to happen. as is it came to me as a freebie(gotta love that), Pretty solid car!!!   did you want that 440 to go!!!

[ussdodge]

  Any one else got any ideas, please throw in, I'm open for more suggestions!!!
                                              USSDODGE

                                Thats short for universal superstock dodge, as any dodge will do!!!

[Nacho-RT74]

maybe grounded brush or green wire.

BTW I have made LOTS of diagrams for charging system... try to make a search on board.

here is one I found recently, but I have made trhem SPECVIFICALLY for 73, with color codes and everythng noted

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Check for a voltage drop in the system.   Any connections that are not soldered or clean will cause a voltage drop.

For example I was battling the same silght overcharge problem you have.  My fix was to repair the hacked up connections at my ignition switch that the previous owner made.....poor connections made for a 1 volt drop at the switch.....which in turn made a 1 volt drop back out the crappy bulkhead connector to the regulator, which in turn made the alternator output more because the regulator thought the battery was drained because of this drop.


Bottom line 30+ year old hacked up connections will reek havoc on any attempt to have a normal 13.8-14.2 volt state of charge.....

[ussdodge]

Thanks guys, If we bump into each other in the outside world, first beer is on me!!I'm sure I'll find the glitch without to much trouble. Plum crazy's advice about the cheepo murray's auto V.R is the first try, I'll stop at the dealer and get the moparts brand. after that it'll be tearing into the harness. Fortunatly it just so happens that I have a complete harness in the shed that I can pull parts off. My try at disconnecting the harness from the alt. and reg. then testing for continuity at the plug between the blue and green terminal came up negative. Although there could be a clean break without touching off on ground inside the harness, as 6t9 charger says, 30 year old wiring... hell I'm in my glory anyway!!! It's been a few years since I had anything worth a looky see. Had a 50 wayfarer with a 440!! went like hell, 3106# wet, and we tookabout 300# off her. Hated to see it go , but the house had to be paid you know!!

                                        Later days dudes  USSDODGE..........

[ussdodge]

Nacho, Thanks for the diagram, It will come in handy If the dealer regulator doesn'tget things under control............Thanks again , your charger sure is sharp!!!  USSDODGE

[BrianShaughnessy]

A replacement harness plug for the volt regulator wiring harness is available at parts stores for a few bucks that you can splice in.

I've seen a few with corroded half broken wires inside the connector that caused overcharging in my time.

[ussdodge]

Hey Brian, Do you know of the part # for the harness plug, And what auto supply, or was that a purchase from the dealer???       USSDODGE

[BrianShaughnessy]

Napa  ECHVRC38

[ussdodge]

Hey Brian, picked up the v.r. plug from napa auto, $8.93, Picked up new wire while I was there, color is not quit the same but close enough. I figured the orig. wire is a bit darker due to the age, oil, heat, etc, under the hood. I'm not concerned with color correct, or originality, after all it's  my car now, close enough for government as they say. Thanks for the info, I'll keep you all posted on the out come, as I hope to work on it today!!!                       

                                      USSDODGE...........Jeff

[The70RT]

Also make sure you have the right alternator..

[ussdodge]

I'm not sure if i do have the right one as I made the wiring and plug change and fired her up and still have 15 volts, with the murray's auto cheapy voltage regulator. I'll purchase a real one from the dealer next. Had the altenator checked,  test showed good?"??   Ussdodge

[The70RT]

I'm not sure if i do have the right one as I made the wiring and plug change and fired her up and still have 15 volts, with the murray's auto cheapy voltage regulator. I'll purchase a real one from the dealer next. Had the altenator checked,  test showed good?"??   Ussdodge

I'm not sure how much amperage your alternator has or is suppose to have but I remember more than one MoPar I had that overcharged because too high of amperage alternator. I had a battery blow up once and had an amp gauge catch fire on on on once too. It seems like on older Fords and GM's it doesn't matter but on a MoPar it sure does though.

[ussdodge]

Do you Know any way to tell how many amp alt I have? Sorry I've been out of the muscle scene for about 18 yrs. All the kids except jr. are grown and he's into the scene to.  " JUST WHEN I THINK I'M OUT, THEY PULL ME BACK IN..."  Al Pacino, God Father III