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  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • Classic Mustang Specific Tech

Charging problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter sjburnett
  • Start date Start date Jul 3, 2007
S

sjburnett

New Member
Jul 3, 2007
12
0
0
Seattle
Jul 3, 2007
#1
  • Jul 3, 2007
  • #1
Hi, about 6 months ago I started having problems with the charging system on my 65. I went ahead and replaced the altenator, voltage regulator, and the battery cables since they were all looking a little worse for wear. Things worked beautifully up untill about a week ago when my system stopped charging. I bought a new VR and replaced it again. With the new VR in place the car now has a draw that drains the battery over night, and when the car is running it over charges my battery instead of not charging it

Is it possible that they sold me a faulty VR? Or is it more likely that the old VR was masking another fault in the system? I put the old VR back on and the altenator stops charging again and the drain goes away. Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated thanks.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Jul 3, 2007
#2
  • Jul 3, 2007
  • #2
sjburnett said:
Hi, about 6 months ago I started having problems with the charging system on my 65. I went ahead and replaced the altenator, voltage regulator, and the battery cables since they were all looking a little worse for wear. Things worked beautifully up untill about a week ago when my system stopped charging. I bought a new VR and replaced it again. With the new VR in place the car now has a draw that drains the battery over night, and when the car is running it over charges my battery instead of not charging it

Is it possible that they sold me a faulty VR? Or is it more likely that the old VR was masking another fault in the system? I put the old VR back on and the altenator stops charging again and the drain goes away. Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated thanks.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the old VR is bad and so is the new one. Convert to a 3G alternator and get rid of your problem.
 

HistoricMustang

Active Member
Apr 11, 2003
2,359
0
46
Confederate States of America
Jul 4, 2007
#3
  • Jul 4, 2007
  • #3
sjburnett said:
Hi, about 6 months ago I started having problems with the charging system on my 65. I went ahead and replaced the altenator, voltage regulator, and the battery cables since they were all looking a little worse for wear. Things worked beautifully up untill about a week ago when my system stopped charging. I bought a new VR and replaced it again. With the new VR in place the car now has a draw that drains the battery over night, and when the car is running it over charges my battery instead of not charging it

Is it possible that they sold me a faulty VR? Or is it more likely that the old VR was masking another fault in the system? I put the old VR back on and the altenator stops charging again and the drain goes away. Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated thanks.
Click to expand...

Check your engine ground. Better yet, add a second ground off the block.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com
 
S

sjburnett

New Member
Jul 3, 2007
12
0
0
Seattle
Jul 4, 2007
#4
  • Jul 4, 2007
  • #4
HistoricMustang said:
Check your engine ground. Better yet, add a second ground off the block.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com
Click to expand...
Actually I do have a ground from the block to the firewall. Didn't think about the ground since the cable was replaced less then a year ago but disconnecting it and making sure it's clean couldn't hurt.

I'll probably just replace the VR again for now and wait on the 3G altenator untill I can afford it. Is that upgrade as simple as just adding a 2 gadge wire to the hot side of the soleniod, a ground wire, and hooking up the ignition wire? Or would I be looking at new brakets as well?
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Jul 4, 2007
#5
  • Jul 4, 2007
  • #5
Its a bolt in physically. The wiring is slightly more complex then that but thats the basics of it. There are tons of 3g swap instructions on this forum already, check them out.
 
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