hello
...just replaced my alternator and volts regulator all new from auto zone, but when i run her at idle, my volts meter reads from 14.7-15.1 volts, is this good or do i have a problem, i have added new ground wires from engine to batteryand body to battery, maybe i need a new battery, i went to auto zone to get another volts regulator and samething 14.7-15.1volts, everything worked fine untill i replaced the alternator and volts regulator, i replaced the alternator because my old one made a noise but it still worked, so i wanted to be on the safe side and get a new one, but now i have this issue, when the ground is removed from volts regulator it drops to 12.2-12.4 volts, at the store they told me it should be 14.4volts at idle, please help...
thanks and good day
sweet 85 dodge

 

With the engine running, put one voltmeter lead toclean body metal and the other lead to the alternator case. If you get anything above zero volts your ground isn't good.

 

Sounds ok to me.

If all the other connections to chassis earth and Batteryare ok then I'd leave it.

Are the headlights bright when the engine revs increase and slightly dimmer on tickover.

You don't mention what the alternator Charge light does .

 

hello
...tried to do the voltmeter, engine andnegative battery and no reading, zero, i did relocate a ground wire that went from engine to battery, now i have engine to body, body to battery for my ground, at idleshe reads 14.7-14.8volts now, so it dropped a bit after i relocated the ground,i called the store they said to bring her in, so is this ok 14.7v, i would rather fix this on my own than a shop, should i try to replace the alternator again, the alternator charge light is fine, so changes in volts when i rev her up, i will mess with her later today, thanks for all your help guys/girls, please let me know what else i can do...
thanks and good day
sweet 85 dodge

 

Under no load, 14.7-14.8 volts is at the upper end of the safe range, but it is acceptable.

Did you take a reading with everything turned on, such as, high beams, wipers, blower motor on high, etc. and your foot on the brake while in drive? Doing this will give you the lower end of the range that the alternator will output.

 

hello
...wow, wow!!!!just made a huge error/mistake, i tried to check my volts and she did not want to start, she always starts, i tried to find the problem and i did, when i was bolting down the voltage regulartor i pinched a wire loom, stupid me always in a rush, there are three wires in that loom, green, red and brown, i only noticed thered wire being pinched and i guess it ground and caused a short,i tried to find these wires in my book but i can't, i wonder what i fried, i do smell something burnt near the brake booster actually behind the booster, i hope i justfried a fuse link, dam this sucks, i just hope this will not cause a big problem, any idea what that red wire is, all three wires are together and it looks like that loom gos to where the carb is, i don't know, its late i am upset at myself for such a stupid mistake, i just did not see the wire that i pinched, what have i fried? how can i start to find out, maybe i will be easy fix, any idea....
thanks and good day
sad 85 dodge

 

From your description it sounds like you pinched the wire that goes to the electric choke element. Unfortunately, that circuit is also the same circuit that feeds the spark computer and ignition. If I'm correct, you would've burnt the #20 orange fusible link over near the brake booster.

You can confirm this by connecting a test light to the dark blue wire going to the diagnostic connector. With the key on, there should be 12 volts on that wire. If there isn't, the fusible link is burnt.

 

hello alloro
...please tell me where this diagnostic connector is, and which fusible link could be burnt, thanks you for your time, also is a spark computer and ignition an expensive part....
thanks and good day
85 dodge

 

The diagnostic connector should be up around the wiper motor area. You'll have to physically inspect the wiring to see the burnt fusible link since they are bundled together, but I believe it's a 20 gauge orange one.

The computer might still be good if the fusible link is just blown. First check that out and then go from there.

 

hello
...i have looked everywhere for this diagnostic connector, maybe i don't have one, this van is 1985 and it still has the old type glass fuses, i will work on her this friday, got a busy week, i just hope she is fine, thanks for all your help alloro...
thanks and good day
85 dodge