I’m declaring my voltage fluctuation problem FIXED! 21 consecutive test drives with zero problems convinces me. Three years and 4 months of this on again off again aggravation and it’s finally over. I believe it was a weak connection inside the factory molded regulator connector. I say this because everything else including all wire, terminals, relay connector, splices, relays, fuse taps, alternator, regulator, and fuses have been replaced, reworked, or proven viable (multiple times over in most cases). Only when I finally replaced the regulator connector was the problem fixed. What else could it be?

What’s sad is that connector and the associated harnesses came from a purchased kit. It was premade. I made the stupid assumption that it could not have been the problem. I mean, it was factory built by people who knew what they were doing, right? WRONG!

Thanks HY (and others) for all your support throughout this three year old+ headache. I think in the end we all knew there was a bad connection somewhere because that is how it was acting. The other thing I kept reminding myself of is that I’m far from the only person who has installed an external voltage regulator. There is no reason why mine shouldn’t be successful. With all said and done, I ended up with a backup alternator and three backup regulators. My late father would call those “profits”.

 

Congratulations for having a 'stick to it attitude' and the knowledge to FINALLY get the problem solved. Now I have nothing to look forward to reading about what the next step is in this mystery! LOL Just kidding! I sincerely respect your knowledge and 'never quit' attitude. Again, good job well done.

 

Thanks dakman.

What a frustrating, aggravating, PITA problem. I hate electrical problems! Nice to be able to come here and have people help who know more than I. This problem sorta reminds me of my college days (going way back now). You're doing an assignment and it just isn't working out. I learned then the best thing to do was throw it out, take a walk around the block, and start over from the beginning. That's kinda how it ended up happening here. Throw out the entire wiring system and replace it all. Touche'!

 

Just to put a bow on this thread, I found an interesting video where the guy explains the charging system of these older Mopars (60s thru 80s). He has 8 older Mopars at the moment but sounds like he's a had a mess of them over the years. Anyway, he mentioned at one point one common problem with the 70s/80s style regulators is that top center connection goes bad (the one that serves as power and field connection). That is exactly where I believe mine failed but not on the regulator but in the connector. So I doubt anyone will want to watch this but in the event they do, enjoy. I learned a lot.

 

Well, still zero voltage fluctuation. Been another month. I think it's safe to say this problem is behind me. Hey You's external voltage regulator lives. And I believe now I might know more about those than HY. LOL.

Oddly, the original intent of this thread (going back 10 months) was to try and figure out why my truck will randomly (and somewhat infrequently) not start up right away...taking multiple attempts before firing up. That's happened twice in the last month. Took two tries once and three tries once. No idea why. But I guess it doesn't matter at this stage. When something busts then I'll know what it is. Until then, this has been going on for a couple years so it's pointless to worry about it. I don't even have to worry about being stuck somewhere. Besides having AAA, it never acts up away from home once she's warmed up.

 

I loved my Triple A Plus. Very useful.....

And yeah, troubleshooting an intermittent problem is a pain......

 

Triple A has lost money on me.

 

When I had my Firebird Formula, I was traveling back from Cleveland...and the radiator decided to blow the tanks off.... Called Triple A to send a flatbed, and had them take it to the shop I worked at. The "Plus" gave me a range of 100 miles, this trip? 98 miles. That HAD to be an expensive tow bill.

 

Oh, yeah. That would have been a pretty bill.