Having trouble with my west coast cobra

[eli]

Im having an intermittent low voltage reading. Would charge battery start car, voltage reads 13-14 would due fine with every thing on. Anther day voltage would read less than 12 and get down to ten. Can an altinator be intermittanly bad or is that a regulator problem?

would appreciate any suggestions

Do any of you get together weekly around Rockland Bergan area
would like to know others with this hoby

Thanks for taking time to read this.

[RICK LAKE]

ELI I have an ERA not the same charging system as yours. Start with the basics make sure that ALL the grounds and power feeds are clean and TIGHT to the body and chassic of the car. If you find nothing I would go to a generator place and have them do a load test for the Alt. See what the output is. You might want to try wiggling the wiring harness with the car running and watch the volt meter and see if it jumps. The battery could have a bad cell in it also. It would burnout the regulator in time. Hope this helps. Rick Lake

[eli]

THanks Rick I appreciate the information. I had my machanic field test the altinator and it put out sufficent voltage he found the regulator was screwed into the fiberglass, he than ran a ground and replaced the regulator. It initialy should 14v slowiy droped to slightly above 12.

When every thing is on< lights air wiper radio> the voltage falls between 12-11.

Should the Voltage always stay above 12, I red some were it should be at least 13.8V to be able to charge the baterry.

Thanks agian the ground on the regulator helped a lot.

[Ron61]

Eli.

My voltmeter runs around 14 volts when I first start aout and then stays around 13 -13.5 after I have ran it for a while. With all lights on mine stays around 12.5 -13. Try taking a regular volt/ohm meter and reading right across the battery terminals to be sure that your voltage gauge is accurate. The voltmeter across the battery terminals should show what the alternator is putting into the battery. If the voltage still drops, maybe have a load test done on the battery. Also when your mechanic tested the alternator, did he load test it or just test to see what it was putting out with no load?


Ron

[RICK LAKE]

Eli Gald the ground wire helped. Couple of things. I don't know which pulleys you have on your motor? They may slow down the fan and Alt. You didn't say what the amp rate was for the Alt? If you have Lights, Radio( size of amps), Fans ( how many) It is easy for your car to be pulling 50 amps drain at idle with al this on. What is your Ignition system? MSD or Accell Both pull alot of amps. Check the system with everything on at 1K rpm and get the volt reading. You may need to go to a 100 amp or 120amp alt to keep the system working properly. Do you have an electric fuel pump? Fuel injection? Give me a list of all the power systems in your car and we will fine you the correct Alt for it. Rick Lake

[eli]

Thanks Guys and sorry for getting back to you Iwas in Detroit my dauhter gave birth to 9 pound boy.

I will borrow a voltage meter and check the voltage at the bat. terminals thanks for the advise Ron.

Rick I have a msd 6al and an msd 15 degree retard unit, as wel as 2 15 in. elec fans 1 push 1 pull, and an elec fuel pump, defrost blower, wipers and radio(75w x 4). no Fuel Injection. I don`t know wath the altinator is capable of puting out or rated at. Is there away to check how many amps an altinator is rated for.

Thanks again will trie out the suggestions.

Appriciate it
eli

[RICK LAKE]

Eli The rating for the alt is stamped on most Alts under the part number or it saids 100A , 120a some reading. You are pulling alot of amps at idle, Fans 15-18 amps high speed each, MSD 20-28 amps, electric fuel pump can pull 10-15 amps, radio 10-20 amps, lights 10-15 amps. Your alt is around 50 amps at idle and with what I just gave you you are short. The battery is taking up the extra drain. Proper wiring is very important for the charging system too. Out put wire from the batt stud should be 10 gauge min with a fusable link in there. Your option is a bigger alt or a pulley change to speed up the alt. I would go with the bigger alt. Find out the charging rate and then look in Jegs or Summit for a bigger Alt with more charging. Better TOO MUCH than not enough. Rick Lake Ps 4 wheel drive mag has them for sale too with heavy duty regulators, tio diodes, and bridges. Give me A call in the PM and I can try to walk you through it. after 8:00pm 732-254-3536. Is your voltage regulator internal??