OK here goes. Generator light on. I bought a new voltage regulator for $100 Delco Remy on box at Stonegate Auto Parts. My generator light was constant red. . Installed new voltage regulator car ran but light stayed on. Then I took the alternator to O'Rellys to test it. It failed as the "ripple current" was way to high. (My son said its the diode). So returned to parts store (Stonegate Auto parts), where I bought a new alternator because they are traditional old fashioned parts house, asked for Delco Remy. $70. Thinking I am getting American made parts. Surprise!

So , returned home, installed new alternator, instantly heard humming noise and put my hand on voltage regulator, it was buzzing. It wasn't happy. Earlier when first started car, a puff of white smoke from voltage. I knew this wasn't good. I get the "dumb award" as an amateur just replacing parts hoping for the best. Took off new voltage regulator that was fried. Reinstalled old voltage regulator , then the car started and ran fine and the red generator light went out. The reason is that the red gen light will go on if there is too much or too little output from alternator or potentially bad voltage regulator. So I thought that to be the case.

So, what went wrong?? I know even though the box on each box for the alternator and regulator said Delco Remy, it also said in fine print, "made in China" My son said "Dad you can't blame China" as I previously had have bad experience with car parts from there. In this exercise was hoping to "buy American" , but supply and higher cost may be a factor. So, I have spent $170, but its still cheaper than having paid a professional to assess the car's electrical system. What did I do wrong? Should not a new "Delco Remy" voltage regulator and alternator be compatible?

Either something is amiss with the electrical system or I now need to take the car to a shop where they can test the original old voltage regulator with the new alternator on the car.
The proper way would have been to take the car to a shop to begin with, but with the generator light on, the engine could pull power from the battery and then quit would quit in traffic which is dangerous.

Any suggestions or comments from anyone far more experienced in this area would be most appreciated.

Thank you,
Jon M.

 

I'm confused. Is your problem fixed or not? You say this at one point.

This sounds like the problem is solved. Car runs fine and GEN light is out.

But then you say this.

Why do you need to take the car to a shop if the problem is solved?

If the problem is not solved, what's still wrong?


Regarding Made in China, get used to it, and don't assume that just because a brand like AC or Delco is an old-time American brand the parts will be made in the USA. Few aftermarket auto parts are made in the USA, especially for the older cars. My favorite story is doing a complete brake job on my '78 Toronado. Every single part I bought, no matter what the brand, from master cylinder to wheel cylinder, was made in China. If you want to drive an old car in 2025, you're going to have to accept that there will be Chinese-made parts on it. There's no avoiding it unless you can have your old part rebuilt, but that doesn't work for everything, or find NOS used parts, but that's hit or miss.

I console myself by telling myself that, even though the storied brands like AC and Delco sell parts made in China under their name, I assume that the owners of these brands would not want to sully their brand's reputation by selling inferior parts under their brand name. I assume that they would exercise some quality control. So far, I have not been disappointed. I did the brake job on my Toronado eight years and 10,000 miles ago, and I have had no problems.


I will be interested to see what happens over time with Trump and the tariff situation. Right now we seem to be at odds with China, but I'm guessing that this is a lot of posturing and that an agreement will ultimately be reached like it has been with the U. K. But if thing stay tense and tariffs on China are high, we might see some manufacturing brought back to U. S. soil. Won't happen overnight, of course, but it could be sooner rather than later.

 

What needs to be done is to get out your meter and read the battery voltage with the engine off, running at idle, and running at 2k rpm.

 

You are correct. The red gen light is now out, with new alternator installed with the old voltage regulator coupled with each other.

The question is:



When the new alternator was installed along with the new voltage regulator in the previous step, why did the voltage regulator burn up? It smoked when I started the car and it my hand felt it buzzing and a hum coming from it . Of course red gen light was still on in completing this step. I had thought new alternator and new voltage regulator would have been compatible. The four plugs grouped together were clipped into the regulator exactly the same as the old original one.

I then removed burned out new voltage regulator , then reinstalled original older one and the then red gen light went out when I started the car. The car now exhibits more power in acceleration . Voltage at battery now about 14 volts.

Again Thank you for your input.
Jon M

 

It went bad because the old mechanical VR's do not like AC voltage running through the circuit due to the alternator issue.

 

Wow I've been driving a long time. I believe it cost around $20 back then.

No, not at all. Our cars were manufactured with the concept that owners could effectively participate in maintenance.

Reasonable assessment. It could also go on from a loose belt...

I will try to put this in the most non offensive way I can. China is known as the master of mimic, with cost effectiveness being the overwhelming factor. To the point where quality is heavily compromised. You are right to feel that way because its a well known observation in the real world. Our youth whether its our kids or ourselves when we were younger, have been manipulated to try to not notice the obvious. And cope for reality by enabling with an overindulgence of understanding.

The buy American ship is sailing into the sunset. And you taking the initiative to do it yourself is the best bet within reason. Modern day car shops overlook the simplicity of our cars and are essentially annoyed when having to deal with them. And most shops despise troubleshooting electrical issues to begin with. So you would likely have been charged a King's ransom.

Nothing !

I would and generally buy the closest to factory equivalent as possible. Regardless of where the part is manufactured. China is part of the game today... period. Unfortunately new parts can and do come faulty. Even an entirely American made car can be a lemon...

Again, going to a shop can be a double edge sword. But obviously sometimes you have to bite the bullet.

In anycase the Chassis Service Manual and patience can go a long way. I would approach every possible repair to an issue with its most mundane potential weakness being addressed first, and work your way up from there. Electrical issue, check battery connections first, then belts, then, etc, etc, up the cost ladder.

 

The initial question: On the first go-around, I bought a brand new Delco Remy alternator AND a new Delco Remy voltage regular and installed simultaneously. I started the car, the voltage regulator immediately made a humming sound, puff of white smoke and was finished. Why if I bought these from the same traditional auto parts store, would these two parts not be compatible? . The new alternator immediately burned up the the new voltage regulator. I subsequently did reinstall the old voltage regulator and the car ran better with more power and the red generator light did finally go out. Should I have questioned the parts store more about compatibility of these two electrical devices when buying them ? I read about voltage regulars being mechanical vs solid state. Should I have specified mechanical? You must understand I have limited knowledge in working on these vehicles. I can't expect any refund on the new voltage regulator that burned up, as once its connected to the car I own it.

Thank you,
JM