Alternator problem, I think

[Headshot zod]

I have a 1979 caprice classic that I am temporarily driving will I work on my truck. Last night coming home the generator/battery light came on.



After I parked it the key buzzer stayed on as did the gen light. This morning the battery was dead. I charged up the battery and started it. The problem was still there. I checked the connections, fine and and tested the volatge to be around 13-14. hard to tell. So I figur it was the battery. Buy battery, install battery the problem is still there. I drive around and the light comes on when I'm accelerating. With the a/c, wipers and headlights on the idiot light stays off but when I floor it the light flickers and comes on, when I ease off the gas pedal the light comes down.



Do you think the alternator is going?

 

[rbattelle]

Sounds like a bad voltage regulator to me. It's probably external to the alternator on that vehicle, and can be replaced very cheaply. Should be a square metal box mounted on the firewall and connected to the alternator output.



-Ryan

 

[dslmacdown]

It should have a internal voltage regulator. Sounds like a bad regulator or doides.