wierd electrical issue. voltage regulator??

865 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Dean, Jan 25, 2004

maddmetalmike

Discussion Starter · Jan 25, 2004

hi all! heres the deal. I have a 70 el camino, 350 mostly stock. I am second owner and know for sure no wires have been cut anywhere. it's a virgin. I had a bad heater blower switch last year and replaced it with a copy from year one. seemed fine but 5 month's into it the 3rd position went out. I bought another, they're cheap, just haven't installed it yet. pain the but to get at. you know. well it started working again, and I don't know if this has anything to do with it but the switch lever gets real hot, almost like its drawing amps. I don't know ecactly when it began but now I notice a strange smell too and I won't leave it on too long. I had an elec. fire once that's enough never want that again. different car long ago. ok anyway, I recently noticed that even with the wipers heater and lights on the car still puts out 15-16 volts at idle. it used to always drop to 10 or so at idle. as long as I can remember I have had to keep the revs up at stop lights to keep the lights from dimming. I am almost certain my voltage regulator needs replacing, although the bad reg's I have had in the past have all created low voltage issues when they failed, this is the first high voltage issue. I guess the big question is if it is the volt reg, can this be the cause of my hot switch?? the other switches around it are normal. only slightly warm because the defrost ducts pass behind them. thank's in advance for your help, mike

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John_Muha

· #3 · Jan 25, 2004

Is this a factory A/C car? If so the switch runs a relay under the hood.
The high voltage is not causing the switch to get hot. That switch is designed to carry a higher voltage than it will ever see. Problem is a high current draw across the switch. If the fan motor is running in the high position, this is not an A/C car, and the second switch is getting hot, I'd replace the blower motor. Should be able to get one through the auto parts store.

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John_Muha

· #6 · Jan 25, 2004

Originally posted by SNFU Mobile:
Oops - he said 15 - 16 volts... not amps - sorry. Disregard the last post.

OK will do but remember the 2 resistors, in the heater box, drop the voltage in the lower switch positions. That's what makes the motor run slower. They also will limit current. A shorted wire should pop the fuse. Just guessing.

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John_Muha

· #8 · Jan 25, 2004

No an A/C car is just wired differently than a non-A/C car. If it's the high speed position that's getting hot, first try unplugging the relay under the hood. See if the switch runs cooler.

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