1964 pontiac charging issue

Urban_suburban · Poncho Master!

1964 pontiac charging issue

Indian · Guru

Start car, disconnect the negative from the battery, if car stays running its most likely a battery issue, if car stalls its most likely alternator. If your regulator or horn relay wasn't working, you wouldn't be able to start the car

Urban_suburban · Poncho Master!

Horn relay? How does that fit in? It's not the alternator at tjs point seems to maintain operation fine. Things are not dimming or anything. Voltmeter sits a 12.10v not running and same when running. Should go up when charging 13.xxvolts should it not?

MoboMac · Poncho Master!

Intermitant (faulty) ammeter?

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Should be sitting at 13.9 to 14.1 volts while running, take a small "pocket" screw driver or drill bit, & touch it on back side of Alt. on brg. Should be magnetized when running!! that shows Alt . is juiced & charging!!! I f it is then you'll have to start looking further down the line

pontiax · Poncho Master!

Make sure the ground straps from firewall to the valve cover bolts are in place and ring terminal are clean. Also check the 10 ga. Red wire from alternater to battery isnt grounding out. There is very little protection on this wire to keep it from wearing the insulation off were it runs thru the rad support. Recently i posted the wiring diagram for a 64 parisienne.

beaucarlo · Guru

if this car was mine an upgrade to a 100 amp. 1 wire alternator would be on in a hurry....if
I'm not mistaken oem alternators for a 64 is a paltry 42 amp.(marked on the housing)...I
think a 60amp.was optional(still not enough power)....regulators are internal...an under-dash
voltmeter finishes the upgrade (stay away from ammeter gauges).....just keep your old stuff
for matching no. purposes

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rabbit64cs · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

open the voltage reg .. and clean the points. you can adjust the cut in / out of the reg.

when the car is running . push the contacts closed on the VR.. you should then see the voltage jump on your meter.. that will rule out the alt.

MoboMac · Poncho Master!

beaucarlo wrote:
if this car was mine an upgrade to a 100 amp. 1 wire alternator would be on in a hurry....if
I'm not mistaken oem alternators for a 64 is a paltry 42 amp.(marked on the housing)...I
think a 60amp.was optional(still not enough power)....regulators are internal...an under-dash
voltmeter finishes the upgrade (stay away from ammeter gauges).....just keep your old stuff
for matching no. purposes
If you're going to do that....you might as well just JUNK the whole car ....and buy a brand NEW piece of CRAP.....

0

Urban_suburban · Poncho Master!

Sounds good I'll give it a try Roger

dcneric · Poncho Master!

Another item you may want explore, is since you don't seem to be getting 13V plus is if one of the diodes is shot. The alternator still puts out voltage and current but not at full possible out put. With the battery disconnected put a load on the electrical system, ie. headlights, radio on and see what the output is at the battery clamps. Should be north of 12V. If it around 8 - 10 volts I would suspect a diode is fried. If it were in excess of 14V it would be the regulator.

Not saying this is the end all be all testing but just the things I did and was taught when a was in high school with my 69 Parisienne.

I am not a fan of the older externally regulated alternators but did retain it on the 70 GTO I restored but used mid 70's internally regulated on the 57 Pontiac and both of my first gen Camaro's.

Most people can't tell the difference and there are after market regulator bypass kits available to install a newer alternator without cutting your harness.

My 2 cents.....

Urban_suburban · Poncho Master!

So seems the one jobber was sending me regulators for a chevrolet and not pontiac with the charge light not the amp meter . I switched suppliers and they sent me the one listed for a grand prix and when I put the multi meter on the battery I get 13.08-14.49 fluctuating range.

-- Edited by Urban_suburban on Wednesday 15th of April 2015 08:48:45 AM

OURWAGON · Guru

o.k. wink

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Urban_suburban wrote:

So seems the one jobber was sending me regulators for a chevrolet and not pontiac with the charge light not the amp meter . I switched suppliers and they sent me the one listed for a grand prix and when I put the multi meter on the battery I get 13.08-14.49 fluctuating range.

-- Edited by Urban_suburban on Wednesday 15th of April 2015 08:48:45 AM

Now you're cookin'.

Urban_suburban · Poncho Master!

If anyone has an old original one that can be adjusted I would be interested. New ones are not.

dcneric · Poncho Master!

Good to read that you were able to fix the charging issue. Sorry I don't have an old regulator.