I've got a 1984 ram 250 and it seems to be loosing power. I Replaced the Battery and the alt but I am still loosing power ( Lights dim and no blinkers, no radio). I was thinking it might be the voltage regulator. I had a 1987 that did the same thing but I cant rember if it was the voltage regulator that I ended up changing as well as the battery and the alt? Any Ideas

 

Have you cleaned your battery's terminals and posts with a wire brush cleaner?
They sell ones just for that at the store, like $2-$3 or so.

Make sure they're really nice and clean

 

Replace the voltage regulator and make sure your drive belt is tensioned correctly.

 

I have a 1984 w 150 318. I replaced the voltage regulator and the truck was charging at about 16 v and ran like a raped ape. Then about ten min later it started having really bad speratic idles. And died on me and wont start up to save my life . Before I replaced the regulator the same thing was happening. Should I change the single pick-up or just the regulator to see if that is the real problem and why would the voltage regulator allow the 318 to idle smooth. ?????

 

Also I have the problem if it is idling some what good when I turn the headlights on it goes crazy and dies out.