I know questions like this have been asked. But I get so many search results...

The ammeter of my '73 valiant reads high. Some days ago I noticed it was a little higher than before when driving. About half way to the right. Now it is almost all the way right above idle. At idle, lights off, it is in the center. With lights on at idle it shows a discharge.

I use the stock ammeter, changed the alternator for a reman one some months ago (reman...I know...) and did a wire upgrade. It worked ok. Just after starting the ammeter would show a charge, and when driving it would go back to just a bit right of the center.

I cleaned the ground of the voltage regulator and can't find any shorts. Voltage seems a little high above idle (a bit above 15). Should I suspect the voltage regulator? Or the battery?

Roelof

Sounds like a voltage regulator to me. If it is blown, you will start frying things in the car with the higher voltage (battery, lights, coil...).

Try a new VR and see what happens...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Frying doesn't sound good. A new VR is in the mail.

Thank you

In the end it was both the VR and the battery.

A new VR lowered the charging voltage, and a new battery stopped the charging. I wasn,t that far off.

Glad to hear that worked!

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988