Faulty Charging System

dearmenta · #1 10-13-2012, 10:52 PM

Not to long ago the transmission was not shifting gears(so it seemed). Due to pressure from work I HAD the TRANSMISSION REBUILT!!! Big mistake turns out the real problem is in the charging system. So I bought a new alternator $100, and a new regulator $43 and the story hasn't ended. It still isn't charging. So here I am.

Alternator and Battery have been checked at O'rielys. I bought a Haynes Manual but still hasn't arrived.

I've got the Field on the Alt. connected to the F on the Reg. & the Stator on the Alt. connected to the S on the Reg. I on Reg. is connected to a Green with red strip(but it looks like a black strip but still looks green IDK) & A on the Reg. Connected to the Batt. on the Alt.

Additionally.. the speedometer and tach dont light up nor the A/C console...Mmmm makes me wonder. what if I just connect the I on Reg. into the A of the Reg. what would happen to scared to try at this point.

Suggestions... Anyone

FireRanger · #2 10-14-2012, 12:18 AM

When you turn the key to on, before starting, does the battery light come on?

< Sent using the FRF Android app. So you can hate me when I'm mobile too >

dearmenta · #3 10-14-2012, 12:47 AM

The only light that turns on is the Seat Belt light. I took off the Instrument panel the other day to check the center bulbs and they are all intact...so I took off the dark film to check for a Battery Symbol and there was non(makes me wonder if it's in the Speedometer side.) Still waiting for the Haynes manual to come in to verify its location. The center lights of the Instr. Panel Light up, but the others don't(radio & map light works fine.)

I followed all the wires associated with the Alt. I can follow the Green/Red strip into the ECM but I can't follow it to the fuse?/driver side. I see a thicker green/Red strip, but IDK if it splits into that one. I still followed that one into the Fuse panel and its good.

I'll check all the Bulbs in the Instr. Pnl. tomorrow. should have done it the first time. Darn Hindsight. Makes more sense know then it did then.

FireRanger · #4 10-14-2012, 06:55 AM

I'm not familiar with the fuse panel layout in your year truck. But there should be a fuse in the fuse panel for the alternator. If it is blown, you'll never get any power.

dearmenta · #5 10-14-2012, 06:41 PM

OK I check out all the bulbs in the panel. I'm assuming the light below the "Unleaded Gas Only" is the Battery Symbol, only because it has a diode or some type of elec. comp. All lights lit up when I powered them up. Except for the ones in the Center panel;the 4x4 Sym. and the engine Sym. don't light with 12v.

I did try hooking the I of Reg into the Solenoid. Nothing happened. I'm thinking the regulator is bad, only because it has sticker gunk on the plate and because it should have regulated. I'll return it tomorrow for a new one.

I connected a toggle switch between the Field and Battery, jajaja. It worked. I drove it to work and parked it there. Now I have a place to sleep during lunch

Still waiting for the manual

dearmenta · #6 10-25-2012, 08:35 PM

It was the regulator. The reg that I bought from NAPA was bad. I still got to full field it to get it to regulate the voltage. I do that with a toggle switch. Flicking it turns it on.

So it was charging, but I was getting like 12MPG and it smelled like gas. Also I would need to step on the gas to get it going like it had no power...So I switched out the O2 sensor and it was fixed!

The speedometer n tach still don't light along with the a/c...still trouble shooting

dearmenta · #7 12-01-2012, 04:22 AM

Update...the external reg. Got stuck so it was pumping~20volts. I did more research and came across the Delco Si10 & Si12 alternator. In short i went with 3-wire, got my money back for the reg. &previous alt. ($150). Spent $45 on a Si10 wilson 3-wire and now... The truck runs fine. Theres no heavybreathing, it doesn't die on me during cold starts(up to 5x before idleing somewhat ok) and most importantly, lol, I don't need to full field the alt. Before each start

cleaned up the wiring mess too!