Current Classifieds

72 pinto and 88 turbo coupe

Date: 06/09/2016 04:13 am
'72 Runabout Drivers Side Door Hinge Set
Date: 12/15/2018 02:21 am
WANTED: 1979 Bumper End Caps - Front and Rear
Date: 02/16/2019 10:46 am
Parts Parts Parts
Date: 09/08/2018 03:13 pm
2.3 engine and other parts- Free
Date: 12/13/2016 10:25 am
windshield
Date: 04/14/2018 08:53 pm
72' hatchback parts wanted
Date: 08/25/2019 02:57 am
Built and Injected early 2000cc Engine

Date: 04/10/2017 07:30 pm
hood for a 79-80
Date: 11/30/2018 10:55 pm
73 rear hatchback glass
Date: 07/06/2017 11:33 am
Leaf Spring Mount Rubber Insulator
Date: 08/05/2018 01:58 pm
Cruiser Dash Gauges
Date: 12/04/2016 11:50 am

Author Topic: Over amping issue  (Read 2066 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Shane198three

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 40
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Gender: Male
    • www.myspace.com/shane198three

  • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Tenth year Anniversary Webmaster Fifth year Anniversary
Over amping issue
« on: March 16, 2013, 06:09:27 PM »
Hey guys,


This question is about my 1974 Mustang 2 Mach 1, but it is nearly the same car, at least in my humble opinion. ;-)


So I start the car up, without any electronics running, and I run at 13-14 volts. But as soon as I step on the brakes or turn on the lights, and I am sure use the wipers or turn on the heater, the voltage jumps up to 16+ volts.


POSSIBLE ISSUES:


Voltage regulator...


Alternator...


A short in the wiring...


Please give me some ideas and replacement plans...


Thanks,
Shane

Offline wbacon8780

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 71
  • FeedBack: +0/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Got to go FASTER

  • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User
Re: Over amping issue
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2013, 06:21:09 PM »
That is a little high usually it's about 15.5 volts. I would be thinking Voltage regulator. I would check it with DVOM first.

Offline Shane198three

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 40
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Gender: Male
    • www.myspace.com/shane198three

  • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Tenth year Anniversary Webmaster Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Over amping issue
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2013, 06:22:56 PM »
I checked it out with a dwelltack a week or so ago. Just now getting to the forums to ask.

Offline wbacon8780

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 71
  • FeedBack: +0/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Got to go FASTER

  • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Windows User
Re: Over amping issue
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2013, 06:41:31 PM »
Voltage Regulators are not expensive. Just picked one up myself at Advance auto parts...20 bucks.

Offline Shane198three

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 40
  • FeedBack: +1/-0
  • Gender: Male
    • www.myspace.com/shane198three

  • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Tenth year Anniversary Webmaster Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Over amping issue
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2013, 11:08:02 PM »
Oh, I know it, I have replaced a few, but none from an over amping issue, that is why I am asking if anyone knows if this might be the cause. I have never come across this issue before.

Offline ToniJ1960

  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 544
  • FeedBack: +13/-0
  • Gender: Female
  • Another Pinto Driver

  • Total Badges: 5
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Topic Starter Poll Voter Fifth year Anniversary Windows User
Re: Over amping issue
« Reply #5 on: March 18, 2013, 12:03:04 PM »
 Well it is the job of the voltage regulator to regulate the voltage. I have heard of cars overcharging before but Im not sure what the causes are that can do it.

 But, if youre looking at a 1 volt difference or less I wouldnt count on a dwell instrument that has a voltage scale. At least use a decent vom if not a digital meter to check it. One volt out of fifteen volts is only about six percent. If its over 15 I would wonder though, over 16 I would be surprised if you arent losing instrument bulbs or other bulbs.

Offline Pinto5.0

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1974
  • FeedBack: +77/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • 80 hatch, 76 Wagon, 72 & 73 Sedans, 71 half hatch

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Mobile User Fifth year Anniversary Windows User 1000 Posts
Re: Over amping issue
« Reply #6 on: March 18, 2013, 08:40:32 PM »
An unregulated alternator can push 17 volts. Try a regulator & it should fix it.
'73 Sedan (I'll get to it)
'76 Wagon driver
'80 hatch(Restoring to be my son's 1st car)~Callisto
'71 half hatch (bucket list Pinto)~Ghost
'72 sedan 5.0/T5~Lemon Squeeze