Need Help on Charging Problem

[MJ Donnelly #19920]

Good morning folks.

I need some advice on a particularly frustrating problem I am having with my 1965 Deville Convertible.

For some reason, my battery is having difficulty holding a charge.  I just had the car in the shop, and they replaced the battery (new Diehard), battery terminals, generator and voltage regulator.  The car ran well this weekend after the work.  But yesterday I noticed that the Charge light on the dash was glowing faintly and this morning I did not have enough juice left to turn the engine over.

Any suggestions for me to take back to my mechanics (unfortunately Im not able to do the work myself)?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mike

[Bruce Reynolds # 18992]

Gday Mike,

Sorry about your problem, but, when the alternator light is glowing, it means that the voltage regulator isnt doing its job correctly and not charging the battery sufficiently to "flick" the cirtcuit.   Also can mean that the fan belt might be too loose and slipping.   An Alternator wont charge a flat battery, whereas a Generator will.

But, your car has an Alternator and not a Generator is I am correct.

I would be having your mechanic come and fix it under warranty.

If he wont come, you will have to put the battery on the charger, then once charged, get it to him, the car, that is.

Bruce,
The Tassie Devil(le),
60 CDV

[denise mccracken 20352]

  This is going to sound strange, but, pluck out the blower relay and see if the generator light goes out.  I dont have the manual for a 65, but this is a common problem on the 70s cars.

-denise

[Andrew 10642]

Mike,

Does it glow wiith the car running or shut off?  Ignition on or off?  I remember a dime or penny in my cigarette lighter receptacle caused one of the idiot lights to glow when my 67 was off!  Dont think it killed the battery, though

[Mick]

Hello Mike.
You need a 12V light probe.
With ignition off, disconnect the battery negative and connect the probe between the negative terminal and the negative post.
If you have light, there is a drain in the electrical system.  Check if any dome/courtesy lamp was left on.
If there is no light; re-connect the battery and with the probe against ground check for light at the alternator output terminal nut, at its R terminal and at its F terminal with key on
If any point does not light up, wiring reaching that point is bad.
Check if there is a healthy in-line fuse in a probably brown wire.
There is other things to consider, but start with this. Good luck,
Mick

[MJ Donnelly CLC#19920]

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions regarding the charging problem on my 1965 DVC.

The car is under the knife as we speak.  My mechanic thinks that the problem is with the Voltage Regulator (the one he took off was burned out).

Does anyone know a source for a higher quality Voltage Regulator?  Hes been using low cost rebuilts from a local parts supplier.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[Mike #19861]

 Try going with Delco. As far as I know, all external regulators were the same from 1963-1972. If you log onto the Delco Parts site, you may be able to locate an original points type, or an updated transistorized one which looks just as the original.

  Mike

[Mike #19861]

 I did a quick search. It is still available through Delco. Part # C635.

 Here is the link:  http://www.acdelco.com/html/catalog/index_img.htm TARGET=_blank>http://www.acdelco.com/html/catalog/index_img.htm

  Mike

[MJ Donnelly CLC#19920]

Great - thanks Mike!