hi im new here ande learning alot. i just got a berautiful rust free 80 4x4 and am having issues wit hte voltage regulator. the batt light came on so i got a new regulator first . hooked it up and the batt light went off. and was charging. the next day the truck was discharging and no battery light this time. any help guys ?? thanks

 

Have the system tested at an autoparts store? They can usually pinpoint the problem

 

Did that .. they said it was the regulator and the alt was good.. thanks for the reply. Anyone know what I would have to do to convert it over to the newer style internal regulator alt ?

 

Why would you want to do that??

How can you tell it was discharging??

If you got a bad voltage regulator take it back get a new one.

There are quite a few things that can also cause a no charge condition have you up grades the battery cables . Cleaned the contacts on the plugs.

 

My 82 had a problem with the wiring to the charge light relay.I never got it figured out ,but you could jump 12v to the relay and it would charge untill the motor was shut off.

 

if the battery is losing a charge, then you have something on, or a short somewhere...

 

x2 peow130

 

Check all your grounds on your engine and engine bay

 

I went through similar issues quite a while back so its hard to remember exactly how i came out but i do remember that these trucks used several different styles of regulators. I remember catching hell trying to find the right alternator as those to have several variations in plug design. You need to do some research and find out what you can about the truck and how it was originally wired, especially by the grounds. For some reason mine grounds to the body, THEN from the body to the frame. When i replaced my battery cables i just ran a much thicker cable to the frame and briged it to the block. This became the start of my problems...Some styles of ignitions are designed to mount straight to the body first, some frame first, some even the starter ive seen... Hope this helps, Let us know how you make out with this; if your anything like me, electrical is NOT my specialty and usually go rounds for long periods of time trying to troubleshoot crap like this as i did before!

 

If all else fails, you can allways do like i did (not because of the wiring issues but just for simplicity as i did this later down the road) and get the bracket trail gear sells for a conversion to mount a chevy 1 wire! 100% bolt on and VERY simple. Any chevy 1wire alternator very cheap and easy to come by...

 

thanks.. ya ive been thinkin about just doing the gm 1 wire swap.. do u know what i would have to change on the wiring? i am very good with anything mechanical but when it comes to wiring iam not as strong .. thanks

 

I just have the 1wire to my batt. Just get the Chevy 1wire that's a "newer" style that's internally regulated so u don't have to mess with anything else. I just removed the old regulator and wires going to my factory stuff. I suppose you could just leave it there in case you ever (for whatever reason) wanted to go back to stock....