strange clutch electronic problem, voltage regulator???

[benjlever]

1054113

me again. ALternator is ok. Whenever i turn on my headlights or brake lights my voltage drops to 10 or 11. BUT, if i put the clutch in the voltage goes back up to where it should be (13 or 14). Any ideas??? this one is definately confusing me. Guys at the store said i might need a new voltage regulator? any help would be much appreciated!!! thanks guys!
-ben

edited by: benjlever, Feb 08, 2003 - 10:30 AM[addsig]

 

[joeycj5]

1054115

What kind of vehicle? :-? [addsig]

 

[bigTlilODD]

1054116

Did you have this problem before you swapped out the alternator?[addsig]

 

[jay89]

1054123

I think you got a bad alt. Did you test it at the battery. You can't always go by the gauge[addsig]

 

[benjlever]

1054152

hey again,
i have a '79 CJ7. straight 6, 3 speed manual. The alternator and battery are both new and tested out OK. I get all 14 volts charging when my jeep is running, but when i put on the brake lights or the headlights, my voltage meter drops to 10 or 11 and the engine idles rough. I probably need a new voltage regulator, BUT the really wierd thing is that if i have the lights on or the brakes on and i push in the clutch, my voltage goes BACK up to 14. Could there be a loose wire grounding on the clutch??? Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated. I just finished rebuilding everything under the hood, and this is driving me CRAZY!!! :-( thanks again guys, you've really been great with everything so far! :-D
-Ben[addsig]

 

[jcooper]

1054168

It sounds like any time the load on the alternator increases, it fails to maintain voltage.
eg:
Lights on (increase load) = voltage drop
clutch in (decrease load) = voltage normal

Maybe the belt to the alternator is loose. When you say the alternator tested fine, do
you mean you checked it with a voltmeter or that you took it to a shop and they tested
it? If you used a voltmeter, the alternator may be fouled up. It could be bad regulator,
bearings, etc. If it's new it should be under a warranty.

Cooper.[addsig]

 

[dingus]

1054172

the first basic test should be done to the alternator as follows:

1. car off, key out... test voltage on battery. should be approx 12.8
2. car running, test voltage again... batt voltage should be approx 14

if you're voltage DOES NOT GO UP when you start your jeep, this is a good sign that your alternator DOESN'T DO ANYTHING!

give that a try first.

how well does it start? do you have to charge the battery alot or anything?[addsig]

 

[PatriotJeep]

1054173

Ben,

I think that I may have something to add here. Wife's Saturn had a problem with the transmission, or so we thought. Ran fine most of the time when warm, but when it was cold the transmission did all sorts of crazy stuff. Rev high, shift hard, etc. etc. Well to tie this into your problem. It turns out that the alt. was failing to maintain voltage at load. Two different shops said alt was good, but the third finally found the problem with the alt at load. Having said all of that I would look again at the alt. as the source of your problems.

Todd[addsig]

 

[benjlever]

1054184

hey all, thanks for the good info. The jeep does run great, and starts right up. Of course it idles rough when the voltage is drained. If it is the alternator having problems running at load, what kind of repairs are we talking? I have an external serperate voltage regulator, could that be the problem? Can't hurt to replace it i suppose. all the belts are tight on the alternator, it charges great when running without brake/headlights. i'll give the regulator a try, any more suggestions regarding that would be incredible! thanks guys, you definately are keeping me mostly sane! :lol:
-Ben[addsig]