71 Cutlass. Alternator voltage to high.
June 19th, 2018, 01:52 PM
#1
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SOLVED:71 Cutlass. Alternator voltage to high.
71 Cutlass S. 350. Replaced the alternator, started it and all seamed well at 14.2Vdc.
While driving however, occasionally the alternator will go unregulated and put out over 18Vdc.
Being that it’s an intermittent problem, is there anything on the car that could cause this? (Assuming the regulator is in the alternator?)
While driving however, occasionally the alternator will go unregulated and put out over 18Vdc.
Being that it’s an intermittent problem, is there anything on the car that could cause this? (Assuming the regulator is in the alternator?)
Last edited by Cstoliker; June 21st, 2018 at 03:37 PM.
June 19th, 2018, 02:25 PM
#3
Old(s) Fart
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Location: Northern VA
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The factory alternator on a 1971 Cutlass would have been an EXTERNAL regulator unit, not internal. Only 442s got the internal regulator that year. Look for the regulator box on the firewall. The regulator is most likely the cause of your problem.
June 19th, 2018, 06:40 PM
#4
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I'll assume the charging circuit has been retrofitted with an integral regulator. (I.e., the regulator is now in the alternator.) My guess is, there is a loose connection, probably inside the alternator, that is causing the regulator to be taken out of the circuit. Disassemble the alternator and carefully put it back together. My bet is, the problem will go away.
June 19th, 2018, 11:37 PM
#6
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Hi Joe. Nice to get a personal note.
Now to your question: I interpreted the OP's comment "Assuming the regulator is in the alternator?" as affirmation that it was. I believe I made a mistake, and now believe he/she does not know. I need to pay more attention to those question marks...
Now to your question: I interpreted the OP's comment "Assuming the regulator is in the alternator?" as affirmation that it was. I believe I made a mistake, and now believe he/she does not know. I need to pay more attention to those question marks...
Last edited by 69 Ragtop; June 19th, 2018 at 11:39 PM.
June 20th, 2018, 04:08 PM
#7
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Thanks a lot guys. That’s what I needed to know, if it originally had an external regulator. I’ve never worked on a system like that and didn’t even know what it looked like.
It does an when it was stuck cranking out 18+ volts a simple tap on the case braught it down. So I replaced the regulator and it’s now 14.4 all day.
Seamed like it was mechanically getting stuck.
Anyway thanks a lot!
It does an when it was stuck cranking out 18+ volts a simple tap on the case braught it down. So I replaced the regulator and it’s now 14.4 all day.
Seamed like it was mechanically getting stuck.
Anyway thanks a lot!
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