Voltage Regulator Question

I recall recently reading a thread on the smell of sulphur in the car while driving (which I can't seem to find now.) Anyway, I've got this problem in the morning when I first start out in my '83 SC.

I believe that my voltage regulator is bad. I had my assistant (Wife) vary the RPM's while I held a digital voltmeter to the battery termanals. At idle, the meter read 14.4 volts, which I think, is about right. Between about 1500 and 3500, the meter got up to 18.5 volts, before dropping back down to the 14~15 volt range at higher RPM's.

That range of 1500 to 3500 RPM's is right about where I am driving until the car warms up in the morning when I smell something strange. This leads me to beleive that the alternator is bad and that I am in the process of boiling my battery.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Jess

That is definitely what you are smelling ... hot battery acid boiling ... not good for the battery, or anything in the trunk, either!!! Sounds like alternatopr is OK, and perfectly capable of normal operation, if the voltage regulator was 'sane' ... just go ahead and replace the regulator. That high voltage is NOT good for anything in your electrical system, so don't do any more driving if at all possible, until you get the regulator replaced!

Even if yours is one with an internal regulator, it is still avilable as a replacement 'module' ... and a lot more cost effective to refurbish your alternator than replace with another unit! If you can get your alternator out, if you aren't comfortable working on it, just take it to an alternator shop to be rebuilt ... shouldn't cost more than $100. But, it really isn't that big a deal to replace an internal regulator, have done it several times myself, without even having the manual for the car it came out of ... all were GM-Delco's, not for Porsche's, but that shouldn't deter you from digging into this problem.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

[This message has been edited by Early_S_Man (edited 04-26-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Early_S_Man (edited 04-26-2000).]

Warren,

Thanks so much for your speedy reply. I guess that this can teach us all that diagnosing problems sometimes requires that we use all of our senses, not just hearing and sight.

Has anyone had to locate the voltage regulator on an 83 SC? I only have the Haynes manual and it shows the regulator mounted on the left side of the engine compartment. Warren mentions that it may be internal to the alternator.

If anyone has specificly dealt with this problem in this car, your insight would be great!

Thanks to everyone for making this board what it is.

Jess