Truck eats regulators...

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Truck eats regulators...

Postby meby » Fri Nov 28, 2014 2:58 pm

My truck is eating regulators about once a month. The voltage needle will bounce at idle, but get solid at a high idle and above. Also, the voltage needle bounces sometimes if I hit a hard bump, use the turn signals or shift from P to R or D.

Are there any causes other than the aftermarket replacements being crappy...such as a broken ground?
thanks,
-Matt
-1991 D-250 bone stock
-2000 Ford Windstar TDI Diesel 5 spd
-1997 Civic Hatchback
-Case 530 CK
-Old Huskee Garden Tractor w/Cub Cadet deck, Simplicity Snow-blower, loaded tires & chains - is it weird the tractor is modded more than my truck?
-Speedex Walking Tractor.
-BCS Walking Tractor


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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby 1992gen1_fan » Fri Nov 28, 2014 5:58 pm

Check the grounds, and if necessary make another better ground.
'92 Dodge w350, 5 spd, Dana 80 3.54, timing spacer, ground stock pin&3200 spring, vgt, hungry diesel piston pump, water/meth, Honed stock injectors, 4" turbo back, light IP adjustments
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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby PToombs » Fri Nov 28, 2014 6:36 pm

It sounds more like a bad connection since it bounces when you hit a bump. Check the terminals in the regulator and make sure they are tight and the ones on the alternator too.
pete

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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby meby » Sat Nov 29, 2014 5:19 am

PToombs wrote:It sounds more like a bad connection since it bounces when you hit a bump. Check the terminals in the regulator and make sure they are tight and the ones on the alternator too.


I'll check. Thanks. In theory, a broke or nearly broke wire could do the same, right?
-1991 D-250 bone stock
-2000 Ford Windstar TDI Diesel 5 spd
-1997 Civic Hatchback
-Case 530 CK
-Old Huskee Garden Tractor w/Cub Cadet deck, Simplicity Snow-blower, loaded tires & chains - is it weird the tractor is modded more than my truck?
-Speedex Walking Tractor.
-BCS Walking Tractor


www.ebyfarmsllc.com
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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby cougar » Sat Nov 29, 2014 10:51 am

Any voltage loss to the sense side of the regulator will cause exactly what you are describing. Common place for 89-91 trucks to happen is the ignition switch. This might help you understand what is going on: http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/ ... 07266.html?
RIP 91.5 W250 5 speed. The great experiment.
92 W250 HD 47RH with Compushift. Upgraded H1C to 62/60/16, Scheid Lightning VE, 60# valve springs, DAP 7X.010 injectors, 4" DE exhaust, home made cooler tubes.
01 2500 "the work truck".
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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby meby » Sat Nov 29, 2014 6:39 pm

cougar wrote:Any voltage loss to the sense side of the regulator will cause exactly what you are describing. Common place for 89-91 trucks to happen is the ignition switch. This might help you understand what is going on: http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/ ... 07266.html?



Haven't done any checking yet, but......the ignition switch makes a lot of sense - otherwise what would shifting out of park have to do with bouncing the needle.


So does the ignition switch itself go bad or is it the wiring around the switch?
-1991 D-250 bone stock
-2000 Ford Windstar TDI Diesel 5 spd
-1997 Civic Hatchback
-Case 530 CK
-Old Huskee Garden Tractor w/Cub Cadet deck, Simplicity Snow-blower, loaded tires & chains - is it weird the tractor is modded more than my truck?
-Speedex Walking Tractor.
-BCS Walking Tractor


www.ebyfarmsllc.com
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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby CumminsPower59 » Sat Nov 29, 2014 6:52 pm

This is what I did to fix the bouncing voltage....

http://www.1stgen.org/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=15828
Ike

91 W350 SRW, 3.07's, NV4500, 370's, THD LPPP, Super HX40, 2nd gen IC swap, BHAF, Isspro's, 2" lift, 285's on 3rd gen 17"'s.
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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby cougar » Sun Nov 30, 2014 10:40 am

meby wrote:
cougar wrote:Any voltage loss to the sense side of the regulator will cause exactly what you are describing. Common place for 89-91 trucks to happen is the ignition switch. This might help you understand what is going on: http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/ ... 07266.html?



Haven't done any checking yet, but......the ignition switch makes a lot of sense - otherwise what would shifting out of park have to do with bouncing the needle.


So does the ignition switch itself go bad or is it the wiring around the switch?

The switch often goes bad slowly. That is why most people don't recognize it as a possible problem. Remember that when voltage drops, amperage goes up. And that can effect your wiring and connectors. The relay is a good idea except it doesn't cure the voltage loss to all the other electrical items that are still running through the ignition switch. I suggest doing both.
RIP 91.5 W250 5 speed. The great experiment.
92 W250 HD 47RH with Compushift. Upgraded H1C to 62/60/16, Scheid Lightning VE, 60# valve springs, DAP 7X.010 injectors, 4" DE exhaust, home made cooler tubes.
01 2500 "the work truck".
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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby edeus » Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:50 am

My -89 is charging bit high 15,0-15,3 and amp meter wiggles.
I am going to relay the vr any time soon to fix this.

Last week it destroyed two vr, both https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 93&jsn=415.
I had dark moment and I took some therapy with angle grinder to find out what is inside of vr.
That black stuff on back was about 5mm thick an rest of the space was filled with sand.
Electrical components are quite small.

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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby PToombs » Mon Mar 14, 2016 4:12 pm

The sand must be a combination heat sink to keep it cool and a shock absorber. Thanks for opening that up, I never would have guessed what was in there!
pete

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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby edeus » Tue Mar 15, 2016 12:02 pm

And today I relayed the vr.
I feel so stupid to wait this long before doing it.

Running 45mph small roads from work to home volts were 14,5-14,8.
Amp meter readings kind of makes sense and lights does not flicker, they dim slightly on idle though.

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Re: Truck eats regulators...

Postby PToombs » Tue Mar 15, 2016 3:46 pm

Good looking job!
pete

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