Took the rag out for a lunch time cruise, about 10 miles from home I started to smell a "stench if you will" like battery acid, pulled over, battery is fuming http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif, spewwing all over the engine compartment http://www.chevelles.com/forum/mad.gif, I had just replaced the alt(ACDELCO), electronic reg (Wells), battery, cables, and ground straps, and this is the 3rd battery to over cook, the first 2 I'll blame on the original and old reg and alt, but to run fine for 2 months and a couple hundred miles and do this again http://www.chevelles.com/forum/confused.gif Any Ideas ????????

PS: I tried to post this in Elec and Wiring but couldn't get it to show up

[This message has been edited by RicksRag (edited 05-26-2000).]

Have you been able to verify that your system is charging at the correct voltage? With the new hardware that you have it seems likely that eveything should be OK, but it sure looks like it is not. Back to Basics!

Is this a seperate alternator and voltage regulator? Sounds like a classic case of VD.

No, not that kind. Voltage Drop, silly. I suspect there is a poor connection between the alternator and the regulator. The regulator is "seeing" lower than actual voltage due to corroded connections, and so it signals the alternator to charge more. The battery is getting "true" voltage, and the result is that you've cooked three batteries.

(Crank the engine awhile with the coil wire off, to run the battery down some.) Run the engine at fast idle, wipers on, bright headlights on, radio on, and every other electrical load you can think of turned on. Take a voltmeter, connect the + lead to the alternator output terminal, and the - lead to the regulator positive terminal. (Yes, you are connecting to two positive terminals, NOT a positive and a negative!!) In a perfect world, you'd get a "zero volts" reading. In this world, you'd better have less than 1/2 volt reading. This tells you that the regulator is "seeing" within 1/2 volt of true alternator output with the alternator charging like mad! If you have more than 1/2 volt showing on the meter, start replacing/cleaning some wires!

[This message has been edited by Schurkey (edited 05-26-2000).]

Schurkey's response should go in the Tips & Fixes section. Excellent description

Unbolt the old alt., spin around and deposit in the nearest tash can, the same for that regulator. Get and install a single wire alt.

Done with bad connections, junk wire etc.

I had one of these dogs over cook and blowup in the engine bay, makes a hell of mess.



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Wally
www.muncie4speed.com (http://www.muncie4speed.com)
Gold #67
67 Malibu "Small Block" second owner
90 SS454
71 Malibu "Small Block"
93 torch red vette

Hey Wally....Not to steal Rick's question/answer on the "Cooked Another One", but I like your idea on pitching the alternator & regulator for the single wire. Where can I find info to rewire after removing the regulator & how about the extra wires at the alternator? I haven't tried searching the site yet, but maybe there's a reference where you can send me. I've cooked a couple also & just getting ready to paint & would like to keep the paintjob intact. My Volt gage reads 17-18 (PLUS sometimes) volts during intermittent occasional "surges".....Thanks...Odie.

[This message has been edited by odie (edited 05-26-2000).]

Odie,
Try this: http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref14.html
I didnt look at it very closely, but I think it has the info you're looking for.

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Steve
64SS-327-4spd-sold to Original owner!
65 Malibu 283/PG!!!
My 65's Homepage (http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/chevelle/)
Team Chevelle Member #71

I still run the original equiptment and it works fine so far. There is a nice little tool, about $11 AT Carquest, which allows you to pull all the wires out of the plastic housings for a thorough cleaning.

Okay, Here's what I've done/found,
-reolaced the Wells electronic reg with a NAPA/Echlin dual contact OEM type regulator, and a new battery
-had alt checked, it's fine 63amp
-battery base voltage 12.92
-drained battery down some
-turned on everthing, and started, fast idle
-Checked voltage drop per Schurkey
high .41-.42 volts
low .03-.05 "
steady at .36-.37 "
-Battery voltage 15.67-15.70
-Checked again after a few minutes, with everything turned off
Voltage drop .11-.12 volts
What do you'all think ??????
Seems to be okay !!!!!! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif


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RicksRag
Stephen City, Va
TC # 560
ACES # 3702

Okay, Here's what I've done/found,
-reolaced the Wells electronic reg with a NAPA/Echlin dual contact OEM type regulator, and a new battery
-had alt checked, it's fine 63amp
-battery base voltage 12.92
-drained battery down some
-turned on everthing, and started, fast idle
-Checked voltage drop per Schurkey
high .41-.42 volts
low .03-.05 "
steady at .36-.37 "
-Battery voltage 15.67-15.70
-Checked again after a few minutes, with everything turned off
Voltage drop .11-.12 volts
What do you'all think ??????
Seems to be okay !!!!!! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif




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RicksRag
Stephen City, Va
TC # 560
ACES # 3702

Rick;

I don't think the battery voltage really should go much over 14.5 volts.

I don't think it has been mentioned yet. Check the grounding of the alternaltor and regulator. The easiest way is to put one wire on the battery -ve and then measure to the regulator and alternator grounds to see if there is a voltage drop. A voltage drop there could do the same as a voltage drop on the +ve wiring.

Peter

[This message has been edited by Peter F. (edited 05-27-2000).]

Whoa! 15.7 volts--way too high! Let's say you have the stock radio (maybe you do), the capacitors in those are rated at 16 volts maximum. What am I getting at?

That's way to much to read across the battery terminals.

Try ANOTHER stock style replacement voltage regulator (its possible that 2 or 3 new ones are bad because many are built poorly compared to Delco standards) and see how your reading are with that first. If they're still the same, Alternator is bad.

[This message has been edited by Coppertop (edited 05-27-2000).]

Didnt see it in your respose but do you know what the amps are while the alt. is in the car and running?

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PhilMullaly Member562 72camino TPI proj

I use a wells electronic regulator (no points) with 0 problems. Did you check the voltage drop between the regulator and the - post on the battery? How about the alt case and the - side of the battery?