Cascade Crew

townaj · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 8:04 pm Post subject: New parts and new problems!!

Hey guys I haven't been on in a while but now I'm back! With some shiny new parts and shiny new problems to go with them. Just in case y'all don't remember I have a 383 backed by a nwc t5. I now have a rebuilt 750 double Pumper Holley and a new air gap-type intake. It runs even better now, but I'm having charging issues. My old alternator stopped charging so I replaced it with multiple rebuilt units thinking it went bad after 25 years. Wrong. After going through 2 alternators I figure its something with the car. But I don't know what. All the connections are good and its hooked up right, but it still refuses to charge. Any ideas? I need to get this thing back on the road asap! Thanks guys...

aaron_sK · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 8:37 pm Post subject:

Excite wire not switching properly from ignition.

Crap battery.

Sense wire reading to much voltage.

Number one is the most likely culprit.

townaj · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:10 pm Post subject:

Battery is good. Had it tested etc. How would I test for the excite wire and fix it? Would it be at the ignition switch?

aaron_sK · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:14 pm Post subject:

Check for 12V at the small tan/white/brown wire (whatever is not the big one) while the ignition switch is on.

townaj · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:35 pm Post subject:

The one that comes through the firewall? Its got hardly anything...so its disconnected from something?

Al Hasse · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 10:03 pm Post subject:

IIRC that should be connected to either a resistor or a light bulb in the dash. That's where it gets the excitation from.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 7:19 am Post subject:

iansane · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 10:00 am Post subject:

My excite wire was hooked to the 20a fan fuse. Someone stole that fuse when I was at a bar one night. That took awhile to find. Mad

aaron_sK · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 10:40 am Post subject:

If only your car had a roof, to prevent such nonsense. Razz

Actually, I think that was stock from Chebbie. IIRC the fan fuse is actually just a bunch of low-draw crap that gets triggered when the ignition switch is on (the fan relay and alternator excite wire, for instance Wink

)

iansane · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 10:50 am Post subject:

townaj · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 10:06 pm Post subject:

Haha well it turns out the excite wire was smashed between the steering column mounting ears and that metal plate it sits against. It was nice and flat when I got it outta there. Fixed the wire and now it charges. At least I got a new alternator lol. Y'all are awesome thanks for the help. I'm almost ready to paint it. Just gotta buy the clear coat.