Hey Y'all, this is my first post here and I hope I have come to the right place. I have a 64 Stepside with a '75 350 engine. My problem started when I went out to start the truck and had a dead battery. My first thought was the alternater not charging while running. Had it checked out. Its good. Next replaced the voltage regulator, Generator light in cab stays on all the time. Still not charging battery when running. I was told to try and splice a wire from the IGN post on the fuse block to the white wire comming from the alternater, still nothing. I don't now what to do, can y'all help me out????
[updated:LAST EDITED ON May-16-04 AT 01:30 PM (CST)]You didn't give us much to go on here. Was this a truck that WAS charging fine and then suddenly stopped charging ? Start with the obvious. What kind of shape are the battery cables in ? If they look the least bit suspicious, replace them. Check the negative battery cable for good ground. What does the starter connections look like ? Are they covered in grease and frayed from exhaust heat ? Replace it, Our hosts here at ChevyDuty have them. Look at the main harness connection on the firewall. ( near the distributer on a V8) Is it making good contact ? Are the terminals clean and straight ? Look at the harness connection on the firewall on the drivers side. What condition is it in? What condition is the underdash harness ? Has it been the victim of years of creative electrical work? If this is a problem that just popped up in a previously running truck, check the battery cables and starter connections. If the underdash wiring and other parts have been butchered, pick up a Factory Service Manual for your year. Compare the wiring diagrams in the manual with what you have and try and get the wiring back to what the factory says it should be. Get in the habit of cleaning the electrical contacts when ever you are working on something. Changing a bulb ? Clean the socket ! DV
I got the truck about six months ago, it had been sitting for about three years. I started with the engine and cleaned it up and added a four barrel carb. Went to the brakes from there and have been trying to get the wiring problems fixed as they came up. I need to replace the entire wiring (rats and corrosion), have looked at the Painless Wiring, but would like to know if there is a better system out there to use. I have seen that our host has a wiring system, are they comparable to Painless? Is it a complete re-wire kit where I remove everything and start from scratch. Is there some one who has used it? Sorry, if it sounds like I am rambling, I want to do this right the first time and I am looking to completely rebuild her and have something that I can drive everyday, but still blow the doors off those Euro racers.
Sorry got carried away on the last post. I have made a habit of cleaning everything I have worked on, I guess the years in the military have taught me that. I have checked all the connections and wires and have even gone through with a test light and ohm meter. Everything checks out good. This truck has had this problem ever since I have had it running (about a month). I have been in and around the entire electrical system, and have read everything I can, I will have the manual for the truck in the next week. I appreciate any and all help.
Without a doubt a complete rewire better solve the problem. I would wait till you get your hands on the wiring diagrams then start to assess what you have. It may be something VERY simple. Something to consider in the mean time would be to swap that old alternator / regulator for a one wire alternator. It's a simple hook-up. I did mine years ago and have never looked back. I believe our hosts here sell a conversion harness that makes it tidy. Or you can just run the one wire over to the positive post of the battery. I did that at first, then went to the conversion harness. It makes it look "factory" and is cleaner than running a wire over to the battery. If you have, or will be adding an HEI distributer, or power accessories, ( like a stero that will blast the doors off those imports) then get a high output one wire alt. You are looking for one that puts out over 80 amps at idle. Factory alts barly put out 30 at idle. Anyway, NOW I'm rambling. Best of luck. DV
A couple of years ago I had a similar problem. When I took the alternator out and had it tested it would be good. But every morning I would have a dead battery. I found out that there is a diode inside the alternator that was shorted and when the truck was off was draining the battery. I replaced the alternator and the regulator and the problem was fixed. Good Luck Pete
