over charging alternator question

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richw40 - 25 Feb 2008 22:19 GMT

car is a 1983 280 ZX, new battery, new alternator. I went to put the
headlights on and the alternator goes dead. Turn them off, and its up and
charging again. I put it on a meter, and its putting out 19 volts. I know I
put the wiring back on the alternator right. I disconnected the headlights
from the original wiring, and hot wired them to the battery via a switch, and
the alternator stayed on, no problems. But the meter is still showing high
voltage anyway. The regulator is inside the alternator.
Does anyone know what may cause this high voltage out put ? Any help is
appreciated !!!

Thanks Rich

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Clamstrippe Fecadunker - 27 Feb 2008 04:03 GMT

> car is a 1983 280 ZX, new battery, new alternator. I went to put the
> headlights on and the alternator goes dead. Turn them off, and its up and
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thanks Rich

sounds like a ground problem. check the ground path from
the alternator to the engine and from the engine to the chassis
also the battery negative connection to the chassis/engine.

also a volt meter will not show if you have one or more blown rectifiers.
if this is the problem you should hear a loud tone in your stereo
with the engine running that will track with rpm.

I suppose you could have a dead short in the headlight wiring
but this *should* pop a fuse.

do the other lights and systems work ok?

Erik

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geotek - 26 Mar 2008 02:06 GMT

I have the same problem with my '83 (not quite so bad) and it's a grounding
issue. Poor connections, wiring that's too small, corroded terminals, and
just poor contact with the body. I've been driving with replacement cables
in my passenger seat for months now....
geotek

>> car is a 1983 280 ZX, new battery, new alternator. I went to put the
>> headlights on and the alternator goes dead. Turn them off, and its up and
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
> ----------------------------------------------------------

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