electrical troubleshooters- help!

ed martin · 05-25-2006, 10:12 PM

I have a 65 356C with a six volt set up. About four months ago I had the generator rebuilt. All was well for about 4,000 miles (yes, I use it as a daily driver) Today the generator light came on and it wouldn't go off. Checked the generator output with a voltmeter as per manual and it seems to be putting out 2v at idle and up to 4v at 2000rpm and above. It seems the culprit is the generator. I swapped regulators just to sure, same problem. I guess my question is, what would cause such a failure so soon after a reconditioning? I checked the brushes and they looked to be normal. I am using a 6v Volkswagon regulator though, I think it is rated at (I can't really make it out) 6v maybe 7v and 45 amps. I know the Porsche generator is rated 7v and 50 amps. Do you think that may have something to do with the problem? Oh yeah, of course the first thing I checked was the belt condition and tension. That seems to be fine.

id10t · 05-26-2006, 06:02 AM

Could be... did you test the generator output or the regulator output though? The regulator output is adjustable.... You may want to get Joe Leoni's *excellent* 356 Electrics book for your car.

ed martin · 05-27-2006, 12:53 AM

Well I got myself cheap Volkswagon 6V generator at Kragen today. Same generator as the Porsche, although it"s rated at 45 amps as opposed to 50, and the regulator is mounted on the unit. Cost me 60 bucks.Installed it and now my light behaves normally. I'll just run that until I get my Porsche one fixed. I wonder what happened. Anyone know what typically goes wrong with them? I mean this one was just rebuilt.

C. Clark · C. Clark's Garage

Even 40+ year old stuff sometimes just can't be made new again, windings fail / short, armatures can burn, contacts could fail, all it takes is one break in the winding and on goes the red light.
Chas.
356
912

ed martin · 05-28-2006, 07:01 PM

A friend of mine, who has owned quite a few Porsches, was telling me that for some reason the 6 volt generators typically don't hold up that well. I guess that another reason to swilch to a 12V setup. This
is actually the third installation I've had to do in about 4,000 miles. I'll just wait for this one to burn out and then decide. The other issue I have is, where can I find a 6v radio? I have the original. Is it worth getting repaired? Anybody know a good radio repair guy?