Quivering volt meter

[BREWTUS428CJ]

Have weird electrical madness happening, need your help. Here it is, Get in drive to work Monday, no issues, radio shuts off halfway to work, turns right back on. I figured it's an old Alpine, maybe it's time to replace it, does is again, turns off for a second comes back on, then I look at the ammeter, theres the issue, the needle is quivering like its scared trying to indicate about the N of normal. I turned off the radio, went up a tiny tiny bit, then I turned on the radio, high speed fan, vent blower, headlights, high beams, got it to dip just below the N of normal, still driving at this point, turned everything off and drove it the rest of the way to work. Hooked the Fluke to the battery, 12.5, so I think the battery is ok, turned the car on, expecting to see no change, 14V. Well now I'm lost, I changed the voltage regulator on the back of the alternator, still does the same thing. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[desertcox05]

sounds like a bad/loose wire. ck your batt cables first looking for corrision inside the insulation too. if those are good ck the grounds on and arround the motor.

 

[HISSIN50]

Agreed.

Check voltage drop in the charge cable.
Clean-up and inspect the charge cable connection at the PDC (arguably the most important connection on the car).
Your reg wiring might be vulcanized.

 

[BREWTUS428CJ]

Yep, you guys were right. I didnt play with it at all for about a week, when I finally did, the first thing I checked were the cables, during this I noticed just forward of the battery there are 2 self tappers screwed into the radiator support that both hold ground wires, one was loose. silly.
Thanks for the help!