My 71 Dart's alternator gauge wiggles a lot. I tightened up the belt and it got better but still wiggles. The battery is new and good to go. I have no problems starting or keeping a charge. I'm not sure if it's the original alternator but they're not to expensive to replace. Any pointers to keep my instrument guages moving smoothly? What actualy runs my instrument panel? Vacuum ot all electric/alternator? I'm sorta ne at this game.

Thanks...duane

71 Dart
68 Charger
01 Harley
Good Wife

My blinkers are pretty week also. The plastic lenses are clean and the bulbs are good. Would a new alternator be the trick? What type/size alternator for my 71 Dart Swinger would you reccomend?

thanks again....

Duane

Run a ground loop and clean up all the connections at the main electrical connections on driver's side of the firewall. If your voltage regulator is old, put in a new good quality one from Echlin or Standard-Bluestreak.
Do not buy a "remanufactured" or "rebuilt" alternator (or any other part...starter, carburetor, etc.) from a parts store, they are trash right out of the box. Yes, even the ones with the "lifetime warranty".
Your instruments are all electrical; there's no vacuum involved. Your first step should be to buy all three books described in this post. They will be the most valuable and important tools you own.
See this post.
Do not just throw parts at a problem when you have it. That is an expensive, unreliable and frustrating way to try to fix a car. Instead, learn and use proper diagnostic techniques and tools to trace whatever issue you're having at the moment and repair it correctly with the least possible effort and expense. If you detect that your lights are dim, check the charging system voltage. Do you own a voltmeter?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I don't own a voltage regulator but will get one. My buddy who is now in Iraq owned one and was helping me with the car prior to him leaving. I'll take all your advice and go from there. I do own a repair book on 71 Darts so I'll dig deeper. Thanks for the quick replys....

Duane

Oops, don't get confused between your car's voltage regulator (part of the system you will be checking and repairing) and a voltmeter (one of the tools needed to test and repair the system).
"A repair book on '71 Darts" will not get you where you need to go. Buy the three books previously linked!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

From the symptoms it is quite likely that you've fried one or more stator windings and/or diodes in the altnernator, leaving it partially working.

Disagree. There are many different causes of low and/or flickery line voltage. A burnt stator winding, one or more open or shorted diodes, a faulty voltage regulator, dirty wiring connections, improper system ground, one or more worn alternator brushes...we don't have enough information to say which of these is "quite likely" at this point.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I have an electrician buddy from church who said he can help test a few things for me on the car. Hopefully I can get some answers. I'll use all the advice you all gave (already have it printed) and will show him. He'll at least have the proper equipment to diognose.


Thanks again.

Duane

Make sure he brings a meter capable of measuring DC power.

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67Cuda,FAST EZEFI,340cu,CR=10.25,RollerCam&Rocker (XR268HR,#20-810-9)(#1622-16)(EddyRPM#60779,#7576), (MSD6AL,#6425) A904, GearVendorsOD, 8 1/4,3.55:1, ClassicAir