Re: Charging system issue

Posted by HH56 On 2015/2/22 22:01:26

If the regulator was changed (and adjusted) for the 8v battery it could be the wrong regulator now and probably voltage is set too high and could damage your new battery. Some regulators are also polarity specific so that needs to be looked into. The terminal order is not really written in stone so can be different depending on mfg or model.

If the car was neg ground and you have corrected it then chances are the generator is now polarized incorrectly. Once the regulator is verified, redo polarization. With everything turned off but connected use a decent sized jumper wire to briefly touch the Bat and Gen terminals together at the regulator. Only needs a second or so and you will get a small spark as the two terminals are connected. It won't hurt and might help. A procedure that is recommended any time a regulator or generator is changed or worked on.

In a stock car nothing will have been damaged with the reversed polarity. If the radio vibrator was changed at some point to the solid state replacements available today and was for a specific polarity then it could be damaged -- or anything else that might be solid state such as any regulators that might have been added to take care of instrument voltage needs.

If it still doesn't charge after repolarizing then time to tear things apart.