Since I got my car running, the generator light has been on at all times while running and the battery is not being charged.
I started by checking out the generator. The brushes were stuck, bearings worn out and brush springs in pieces. I had a shop check the rest out and replace the bearings and springs. I guess they didn't see the need to replace the brushes because they didn't say anything about them.
With the generator reinstalled, the warning light is still on. The test procedures for the voltage regulator are very complicated and I don't have the equipment for most of them anyway. I cleaned the corroded contact points and visually inspected everything else. Still no charging. I noticed, however, that the cut-out contacts were not closing.
From what I understand in the manual, the cut-out contacts close when the generator produces enough voltage to overcome spring tension, namely 12 volts. If the points stayed closed, the battery would drain through the generator armature. I speculated that if the regulator were at fault, connecting the points by hand (forcing them shut) would result in charging and turn off the GEN light. If the generator were at fault, forcing the cutout points shut would only drain the battery quickly.
So, I tried forcing the points shut, and the GEN light went out immediately. Am I right to conclude that I have a fauly voltage regulator?
I started by checking out the generator. The brushes were stuck, bearings worn out and brush springs in pieces. I had a shop check the rest out and replace the bearings and springs. I guess they didn't see the need to replace the brushes because they didn't say anything about them.
With the generator reinstalled, the warning light is still on. The test procedures for the voltage regulator are very complicated and I don't have the equipment for most of them anyway. I cleaned the corroded contact points and visually inspected everything else. Still no charging. I noticed, however, that the cut-out contacts were not closing.
From what I understand in the manual, the cut-out contacts close when the generator produces enough voltage to overcome spring tension, namely 12 volts. If the points stayed closed, the battery would drain through the generator armature. I speculated that if the regulator were at fault, connecting the points by hand (forcing them shut) would result in charging and turn off the GEN light. If the generator were at fault, forcing the cutout points shut would only drain the battery quickly.
So, I tried forcing the points shut, and the GEN light went out immediately. Am I right to conclude that I have a fauly voltage regulator?
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