• Registered: 2010-08-07
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Alternator charging

I have a 73 super beeltle with an alternator and the voltage regulator under the seat. It wont charge for the life of me, if checked grounds added more,used jumper wires for grounds, i get 15 volts out of the alternator with the car running if i test the alternator charge wire while its disconnected from the battery, but as soon as i put it on, it drops down to 12 and does not charge the battery, i know its not working because i tried unhooking the ground cable from the battery while it was running and it dies. The regulator seems to be working properly because i get 15 volts steady no matter what RPM. Can anyone help me?

  • hank
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: British Columbia Canada
  • Registered: 2004-03-30
  • Posts: 425

Re: Alternator charging

" i know its not working because i tried unhooking the ground cable from the battery while it was running and it dies."
that sounds like a good way to blow the diodes in the alternator or regulator.

15 volts seems like it is running at full field situation--- regulator must be bad
charge the battery
clean all the connections --tighten terminals
new regulator

hank

'57 bug "BlackBerry"
'58 type261 single cab "Ruf"
'86 vanagon syncro "Syncro da Dr.Mayo"
and way too many project waiting