Altenator / Voltage Regulator

[TallyRich]

I have a 1980 Weissach that I think needs a voltage regulator. Where is it, how hard is it to change out and how do I tell which model I have so that I can order the part in advance of removing the old one?

[vash]

why do you think it needs a new VR?

[TallyRich]

When idling in the drive way if you depress the accellerator the lights get brighter.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by TallyRich
how do I tell which model I have so that I can order the part in advance of removing the old one?

pull the alternator and look..

[vash]

Originally posted by TallyRich
When idling in the drive way if you depress the accellerator the lights get brighter.

oh no, my car does that!

[pwd72s]

Buy a multitester...see what your output is...

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by unfixed
oh no, my car does that!

don't worry..
why don't you have a volt gauge by now ?
anyway a volt meter on the battery at 2k rpm with lights and heater blower on will tell the tale

[vash]

at two-k with lights and blower on, i am kicking A at 14+ volts. i always wanted one of those voltmeters that you can plug into the cig lighter. never did find one. i tried to make one with my multimeter and an old cig lighter plug, but my electrical ignorance reared it's ugly head and i failed miserably.

[pwd72s]

cig lighter plug in voltmeter can be bought from Nordskog Performance, 1120 Yarnell PLace, Oxnard, CA 93003. PHone is 805-483-2411. Part number is M9025. Forget exactly what mine cost by the time it got here...around $60? It's digital, but one feature I like is it's memory button...to recall the highest voltage reading, you press a button on the face. Nice for checking, since when driving I don't want to watch the V meter all the time...

[vash]

thanks pwd72s. i will try not to crash my car staring at the meter. haha.

[PorscheRB]

I thought my regulator was going out ('74 911s). It was charging upwards of 20 volts at 4000rpms... turns out the battery cover was loose and everything worked out after I topped it off with some distilled water.

Best,

Ian

[TallyRich]

Some great ideas here, especially for the testing to avoid replacing a working part. However, if I do find that I need to replace it I don't want to take the vehicle out of service to wait on the part. Is there a way to tell what voltage regulator I have without taking the existing one out? Where is it located?

[targa80]

Originally posted by unfixed
i always wanted one of those voltmeters that you can plug into the cig lighter. never did find one. i tried to make one with my multimeter and an old cig lighter plug, but my electrical ignorance reared it's ugly head and i failed miserably.

This is a terrible story you have my sympathy. It is only two wires and if it is hooked up wrong you will know it. Analog meter will peg at zero volts, Digital meter will read negative voltage.

[targa80]

There are previous threads with pictures of the external voltage regulator.

This thread has a picture I posted of the engine bay wiring. The external voltage regulator is the one with the yellow label on it. I just looked at the post the first picture has a box with a yellow label also but that is not it. Look at the pic I posted in the thread.

Engine Electrical Question

[vash]

pat henry, i was trying to emphasize my electrical skills. or lack of. i was sorta joking. i didnt want to bastardize my stinger flashlight car charger. and my other salvage piece had a break internally. i gave up from there.

[TallyRich]

Thanks the picture helps greatly. I don't mind unplugging something to look at it a put it right back, but I didn't want to pull the altenator or something and have the car down while I was awaiting parts.

[Thack]

I have a voltage regulator external type. I'll send you a pic if you want it. $10 sound fair? I had to rebuild my alt and found out it har the reg. in the alt.

[Randy Webb]

"I don't want to watch the V meter all the time..."

- How about hooking up a storage O'scope? Ya wanna have fun or what?

[Seven-Seven]

http://store.yahoo.com/rodi/vec008.html

This <$14.00 meter came recommended by several Pelicanites. (Sorry...I couldn't find the actual posts.) I bought one over a year ago and use it for every day monitoring or spot-check metering. It's inexpensive, but I find that the readings are VERY close to those from my Fluke multimeter that I paid nearly $150 for.

I normally don't keep mine in the cig. lighter because it blocks access to the CD tray of my audio head, but I take the meter out of the glove box and plug it in anytime I suspect that something's amiss. Last week I sensed that my car wasn't starting as easily as it should, so I stuck the meter in and left it there for a couple of days. It didn't take long to see that my alternator was charging okay but the battery wasn't keeping a full charge. Sears replaced that battery today today (free) under warranty.

[Seven-Seven]

Here's a (bad) pic of the meter in situ: