I have a 68 cutlass 350.

I was driving home the other night and noticed the gen light was on. My amp meter jumped to 17 for awhile and my lights got bright. Then it dropped down to 12. It would bounce between 12 and 10.

I changed the voltage regulator today. Gen light is still on unless I rev it up. Then the amp meter jumps up to 17 and the light goes off until it goes back to idle and the light comes back on.

I took off my alternator and had it tested. It passed. The parts store said I might've bought a bad regulator, so I'm waiting for a new one to come in. Bwd brand.

Am I on the right track? If the other regulator doesn't work then what? This is about the max end of my mechanical experience . Thank you for your advice!

 

It was a bad new regulator. exchanged it for a new one put it on and now everything is back to normal.

Phew! I was worried it was something worse!

 

Good to hear you got it fixed. If the alt passed its test the next logical step was the regulator. Hope it lasts for a long time.

 

X2

 

Well-I started it up to take it for a drive and my alternator started making a high pitched squealing noise. At first I thought it was the belt. But it's not, it's the alternator. There's a blue and yellow wire that clips to the back of the alternator. When the plug in the yellow wire it makes that noise. Any suggestions? Plus the generator light is faintly on. Did I blow the regulator again?

 

I also kept having a dim gen light issue after changing both the alternator and VR. Problem finally went away after soldering on new pigtail connectors at the alternator and VR. You can get them cheap at any parts store.

 

I had a 69 cutlass that had the same problem. It was the wire connectors also. Easy and cheap fix. Good Luck Rick

 

I have a similar issue with my Mercury Mustang Eater...a 1995 Mercury Marquis that has a 4.6L. 4R70W AODE trans, w/wheel disc's, stainless CAT back into an X pipe into Flowmaster 40's and MB Oldschool Bullet 5 spoke Torgue Thrust kinda wheels,,,,With good ignition, air and exhaust it's damn near 300hrs YEEHAW anyway. I have drain under load charging issue and after tracing it all over and regrounding everything, having the alternator checked (passed) and reprepping the mounts, the grounds, the cables the battery I still get 14amps at a idle until I turn on the A/C, lights etc then it drops to like 11 amps....GRRRR. I am thinking it is the alternator and this Marquis uses a HD mondo alternator that aint cheap...So I was gonna suggest checking all the grounds and relays etc but you got it sorted....so GREAT....Good Luck

 

clean all of your connections until they are bright and shiny(at the regulator and alternator).


bill