[updated:LAST EDITED ON Jul-24-03 AT 00:10 AM (CST)]I can't get my 65 chevy to charge the battery. the first thing that i did was have the alternator checked, then replaced the voltage regulator, but still nothing. Does anyone have any idea on where to get a wiring diagram? so far, wires 3 & 4 from the regulator go to the (horn relay?) and f & 2 go to the back of the alternator.
" Does anyone have any idea on where to get a wiring diagram?" In the back of the Factory Service Manual... Can't recommend this manual enough. If you are trying to maintain a vehicle this old you NEED one. But until you get one, check out Dave's site. http://www.60-66chevytrucks.com/ Dennis
Howdy. I had this very same problem on my truck before I rewired the entire thing. I did manage to solve it in one afternoon of frequently painful electrical troubleshooting. The alternator (technically generator in this case--alternators are internally regulated or something like that)gets turned on when you start the truck. The 'f' wire you speak of is the field wire that turns the alternator on when you turn the key all the way over to engage the starter. When you let the key back to the 'on' position, the field wire loses power, but the alternator is already turned on and charging. I could not find the right wire under the dash that would turn on the alternator, so I made my own. I put a new wire in to a live slot on the fuse block (just use a test light to find one) and hooked it up to an aftermarket horn button. From the other wire on the horn button I ran a wire out to the F wire and connected it with a three-way snap connector. The way this works is when you turn the truck on, push the new horn button to turn on the alternator. The switch sends power from the wire coming from the fuse block the the field wire on the alternator. This isn't the most convenient fix because you have to remember to push the horn switch every time you start or drive your truck, but it beats having a dead battery every other time you go to start your truck. If you have a good ear, you can actually hear the alternator turn on and begin to charge. It is a really faint whining sound not unlike a supercharger. I hope some of this helps, but don't use it as a substitute for the wiring diagrams in the shop manual. Good luck and happy trucking! --TrustyRusty
