[DeTomaso] Ammeter and voltage regulator question

[Larry - Ohio Time Corp]

Hi Dan,

See if you can move the fan/pulley on the alternator. If you can the belt
needs tightening. The belt and pulleys may also be hard and glazed and just
slipping. It is still slipping as the r's go up, but it is spinning enough
to make it charge.

What you need is an analog volt meter (big old faction gauge) to watch as
you drive the car. This will tell you what is going on. You should be at
14.5 VDC when it is charging at max.

Now remember this is a 30 year old car that sounds dam stock. Clean the
battery terminals. Clean all the ground points. Clean all the charging
connections. A bad battery can cause a non-charging like this too.

If you still think it is the voltage regulator you can bypass it and put the
alternator into full charge mode. Turn off the engine and remove the voltage
regulator connector. Connect a jumper wire between the "A" and "F" terminals
of the plug then start it up. You should see 14.5 VDC at the battery, if you
do not see it there, try it at Bat. terminal on the alternator. 


Larry (carry jumper cables) - Cleveland



-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of Daniel C Jones
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 12:10 PM
To: Jim Hendrickson
Cc: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] Ammeter and voltage regulator question

When I purchased my white Pantera, it had a voltage regulator that
appeared to be new.  It has a tall cover which I assume means it was the
mechanical type.  The car also has the stock alternator and dual points
distributor.  A few weeks ago, the charging indicator light started
staying on after I started the car.  A few blips of the throttle and it
would eventually go out.  Last week, it did not go out so I replaced the
voltage regulator with a new electronic version.  That turned off the
light.  This morning it took a few blips of the throttle to get the light
to go out again.  As I was driving to work, I noticed the ammeter needle
was rock solid at zero but the charging indicator light was not lit.  If
I'd turn on the fans on the ammeter needle would swing momentarily,
then return to zero.  I need to put the multimeter on it to see what the
voltage output is doing but has anyone seen behavior like that before?
Perhaps due to a loose connection at the light or ammeter?  With the
mechanical regulator, the ammeter needle use to dance around.  I assume
the electronic regulator has quieted it down but I expected to see the
needle indicating a slight charge, not sitting on zero.

Dan Jones
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