Stupid I know but I didn't disconnect the battery when removing the alternator and shorted it out.
When all was connected again I started the car and all seemed fine intill I switched off the ignition and then the Gen light came on, turned the ignition on and the light went out.
I started the car once again and increased the RPM to check voltage, all ok as charging at 14.5v. Switched the ignition off and Gen light now off, checked a couple of times and all ok.
That was last weekend, came to start the car today, totally flat, no lights no nothing. Got it jump started and checked charging voltage, at idle it was 13.5v but with increased RPM it went up to 16.7v, Gen light working as normal.
With the ignition off I connected an Amp meter in line and discovered a 1.5a draw which stopped if I unplugged the Alternator, also the Alternator got very hot, never noticed that before.
Had the Alternator rebuilt today and was told that if it still had a 1.5a draw I had probably knackered the Reg box so I got one of those as well.
End of the day with all this fitted it is still charging at 16.5v with a 1.5a draw when the ignition is off.
Tearing my hair out now and there aint much left.
Any ideas would be welcome
Car is a '63 Starfire
Thanks in advance

 

Yippee!!! My Oldsmobile is working again. A big thank you to Jeff for letting me rob his Corvette of parts to try and solve my problem. It was the voltage regulator all along, new one on the way. Now to try and put the wiring loom back together!!!

 

When I read this a few weeks ago, I thought that you had already replaced the regulator and still had the problem.
I was stumped and did not reply. I guess I misunderstood what you wrote.

Glad you got it working again!

 

I also thought the reg had been replaced. I'm still confused It must be my age.

 

x3.

"... so I got one of those as well" is difficult to interpret in any way other than that you changed the regulator and it didn't help.

Clear descriptions of problems beget clear solutions to them.

- Eric

 

I had replaced the regulator with one that I got from the chap that rebuilt the alternator. I thought it a bit strange at the time the wiring connections had been written inside the box in ballpoint pen!! but was told it was new so assumed it was not the regulator that was the problem. After a week of pulling the loom to pieces a called in an auto electrician and he confirmed that my and the new regulator were faulty. I borrowed a known good one off of a friends car and all was ok. I have now ordered a new one from a different source.

 

Okay - I see. Goes to show even "new" parts can be bad...
Glad you got it fixed though.

 

Makes you wonder about the chap who rebuilt the alternator...

- Eric

 

Makes me wonder what was wrong with the regulators. I am guessing both were solid state electronic and not mechanical. aristellier, do you know what type of regulators were used?

Rob is right. Even new parts can be defective. Often it can be a whole factory run, involving many defective units. I am glad to see you ordered the replacement from a different source. The rebuilder may be interested to know what happened so he can check the rest of his stock.

 

They were the solid state Chinese ones!!!

I'm giving it back to him at the weekend, he is aware of the problem.