Hello,
i recently inherrited a 1977 dodge van. I was told that the alternator was putting out too much amperage. i had it started and running and as I was sitting in it enjoying the fact It was running, Just fiddling around inside, I was startled when the glove box light blew out, and the engine died. I walked away, Three days later I went out to try and start it back up and it wouldnt draw any power. The headlights wont even turn on. I checked all the fuses and they are fine. I also checked the battery and it is reading about 12 volts.

I included a picture of the van.

What could Have happened? Where could the problem lie???

 

Check that the ground wire is secure to the engine block.
Check that the battery connections are clean and tight.
Check fuse links behind the brake booster, may find one or more blown.

 

Yeah, we checked all that.... however the red wire runnning from the alternator to a plug near the battery has a little tab that says fusable link. And I would like to check the fuse, but I cant find a fuse anywhere I even cut through the little tab to see if it was under there but it is not.
HELP!

 

Also the fuses behind the brake booster are just accesories.. lights, heater etc.. I am getting NO power anywhere

 

A fusible link is a piece of wire. It's insulation is thicker, the conductor within is highly flexible( not stretchable) and is designed to melt with too much current passing through.

http://www.whiteproducts.com/fusible-faqs.shtml

There is probably one you have not found

 

Alright I found the problem. It was a burnt out prong on one of the main + connections next to the battery. I made a beefy setup bypassing the wire through the old plug (with the burnt prong) and just wired the wires directly together (Who needs a fancy quick release plug). you betcha it fired right up. Now its new alternator time. Thanks guys

 

Hold off on a new alternator. The battery/ battery connections and the condition and thickness of wires between the alternator and battery determine the amount of amperage a battery can absorb.

The voltage regulator determines the voltage. Voltage is only one aspect of current, and too high a voltage will overcharge a battery.

With a discharged battery you hope to see 14.4 to 14.8 volts.

After the battery is fully charged you do not want to see over 13.7.

So replace the voltage regulator first if your convinced you battery is overcharging. Actually inspect the wires leading to and from the voltage regulator, battery and alternator. The case on the VR must be grounded on some. Disconnect the battery before working on the VR, and hook it up last.

An overcharged battery 'boils off' electrolyte. Only distilled h20 should ever be added to a battery.

 

What does the voltage regulator look like in the van, where is it? I think I found the solenoid.

 

It'll look something like this:

 

Thanks Alloro! Are the two small wires going from the alternator the ones that go the voltage regulator? How does it even work? It is just like..... a box mounted to the engine bay, no wires go away from it at all except the two that look to go to the alternator?