My 206 amp gauge goes back and forth from charge to discharge. I got 13 volts at the battery when it's charging and 12.4 when it's not....seems like there may be a wire loose..where to check first?.......Mahalo from Maui Boy
start simple: be sure, and i mean sure that the battery cables are tight, AND that the damn terminal ends are on properly and tight. once you know that the ends and cables are good, check the battery grounds, chasis grounds and grounds at the rear of the car. next check the exciter wire to the alternator from the guage, and the damn little bastard bulb in the dash that MUST test or the alt will not see voltage from the exciter wire to excite the field and charge like its supposed to. that euro car thing with the little tiny test bulb in the dash was a neat trick to learn. muscle cars dont need the idiot lights to work for the charging circuit to function. last, but not least, the diodes in the alt may be going bad , as can the Stator . if the battery and wiring seem to check ok, have the alt. tested through the battery on the car. this will tell you if you have a corroded cable, or a bad junction. remember the starter acts as a junction and corrosoin or broken wires can cause issues. did i mention how much i hate electrical issues. i would rather buy a new engine !
Gregg, Another "simple" thing to check is the voltage regulator, the box on the far left when looking at the fuse panel. Cheers. Pietro 71 246GT.
The physics of diodes do not allow them to "...start to go bad..." They are either pregnant or not. Clean the contacts on the regulator and at the firewall fuse (if there is one on the 206) and at the alternator. If the regulator is sensing varying voltage it will produce varying field current. Your meter will not react fast enough to observe this. The long run from the regulator field contact to the alternator lends itself to significant voltage variations if the contacts are not clean. Jim S.
The movement of the ammeter can normally have some wild swings; such as when sounding the horns. As a new owner are you sure you are seeing a problem or are you seeing the normal, but wild needle movement?
I'm confused about the earlier posting with regard to the idiot light in the dash.... My alternator charging "idiot" light stopped illuminating when the ignition is switched on and the alternator isn't charging- as indicated by the ammeter, and a check of the voltage at the battery (11.7 volts) when the car is running. Do I have to replace the idiot light- in addition to whatever might be wrong with the charging system???
Gregg, Check alternator brushes. Can be done with an ohm meter when field fuse is out. Should read 0 ohms. Then check voltage across field when engine is running. If it bounces around then brushes or regulator are/is bad. 13 volts is low when charging unless battery is really down. 13.5 to 14 is more typical with a fully charged battery. Good luck, John
