Regarding my '67 Barracuda with mechanical points and voltage regulator:

For as long as I've had this car (3 years), the electrical power dims when at idle under load, (headlights, wipers, heater motor, blinker--all on), and the ammeter deflects towards the discharge "D". Then, upon accelerating and crusing, the ammeter swings to "C"; after a few minutes, it returns to the neutral position.

I understand that this is normal. But, it started to concern me when the dips in the ammeter from "D" to "C" became more dramatic, and I would have to put the transmission in neutral at red lights so I could open the throttle a bit to keep the power going, (with a full load, the lights dim quite a lot, and the engine seemed about to die otherwise). I installed a new voltage regulator ($17 at Napa, made in USA), but that didn't make a difference, (though, now I have a spare).

When I would rev the rpm a bit in neutral, the rate of the turn signal blink would increase, as well as the speed of the heater fan, and the brightness of my headlamps, and the ammeter would deflect towards the "C".

Then suddenly yesterday, those things no longer occur when I rev the rpm in neutral--or while acclerating, or cruising. The ammeter never goes past neutral towards the charging position; the blinkers don't blink faster; the heater fan doesn't increase in speed, etc. (The ammeter doesn't dip wildly towards the "D" at idle anymore, either, but deflects slightly that way now).

My thought was that the alternator may no longer be properly producing power, (which I gather could be a failure of the alternator or the voltage regulator, if true). So I took it to Napa, and they hooked their electronic device to my battery--first with the car off; then with enginge running; then with eginge running under load: headlamps, heater fan, and turn signal all on--and it said my alternator is working properly, producing power, (and that my battery is in great shape, too).

It's as if it now works like I always expected it should! What are some possible explainations for this? What should I be checking for?

Thanks!
Thomas

_________________

1967 Barracuda 225

Perhaps there was a bad connection in the charging circuit, ground, battery to block, voltage regulator to fire wall, and for whatever reason it corrected its self. Perhaps you tighten something such as alternator brackets, or moved a wire changing conductivity at that point.

You may want to remake all grounds & battery connections including the ones out by headlamps. Poor electrical connections introduce resistance to a circuit, and each one is added to the next resulting in a large resistance. The alternator & voltage regulator see this increased resistance as an increased load. Increased resistance causes unwanted heat in your wire harness.

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC