Generator Problem in 3 Acts

MitchW · #1 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 01:55 PM

Act I

About a week ago I noticed that the gen light on my 69 Spider Jr. was flashing every couple of seconds while driving at hiway speeds. I looked for loose wires or a fuse and didn't find anything wrong.

Act II

Before I could do any more testing the gen light stopped coming on altogether. At the same time I also notices that intrument lights for the tach, same module where the gen light is, were both out but they may have been out for awhile since I rarely drive the car at night.

Act III

This weekend I got out the voltmeter and found that the generator appeared to be working. Voltage went up with the revs and I saw readings as high as 16v (too high?). I pulled the tach out of the dash looking for a bad ground but it apparently grounds through the tach chassis to the dash. I did register voltage from the gen light wire with the engine off. I also found out that only one of the intrument bulbs was burned out.

So how do I end this mystery? Is it a bad regulator or gremlins in the dash or did the butler do it?

Anybody know a source for new intsrument bulbs?

Thanks

**papajam** · #2 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 05:02 PM

If I'm not mistaken, your '69 should have an alternator, not a generator (even though the dash light says 'GENERAT.') If your voltage regulator looks like the one in the pic, you have an alternator. In either case, 16v is WAY too high. Try disconnecting the regulator and recheck the charging voltage. If the voltage does NOT rise when the engine is revved up, the alt is probably OK but the reg needs to be replaced.
The GEN light is grounded thru the green wire that goes to the D+ terminal at either the voltage reg or the alt. The pink wire on the light is switched power thru fuse #6.
Instrument lightbulb info to follow.

**Alex Csank** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 05:32 PM

Hi,

Your car has a generator. It's a piece of crap! Do what I did and replace your generator with an AC/Delco (GM) alternator (with internal voltage regulator) from a '70s Chevy (about $70 from any auto parts store). You will have to fabricate a bracket and put in some home-made bolt spacers, but it's probably the best modification I have ever done to mine!

I can send you the plans if you like.

By the way, Mitch...that's a VERY rare car that you have there! As far as I know (I've done a lot of research too!), there are only about 60 roundtail 1300 Juniors left worldwide! Is yours a Canadian model (english gauges)?

Cheers,

**papajam** · #4 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 05:56 PM

Guess I'm mistaken. So what year/model/engine size did Alfa switch to alternators? Both my 68 1750 GTVs have alts.

**Alex Csank** · #5 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 06:03 PM

They switched with the switch to the 1750 engine. All 1600 Duettos, 1300s (until '71) and 1600 Giulias had generators (as near as I can figure anyway!).

**papajam** · #6 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 06:40 PM

Thanks for the info Alex.

**67GTV** · #7 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 07:29 PM

Are the older generators really that bad?? I have one in my '67 GTV and it works fine as far as I can tell. I have yet to break out the engine analyzer though. Will it tell me what I need to know about the charging system?

**Alex Csank** · #8 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 08:01 PM

Yup...they really ARE bad! That's why EVERYBODY switched to alternators! The generator will charge your battery pretty well, provided you're not using lights, windshield wipers, heater fan or (heaven forbid!) a radio!

If you want a 100 point car, you probably don't drive it much...if you want to use your car in weather and at night...get an alternator!

Cheers,

**Alex Csank** · #9 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 08:03 PM

Papajam...I have a big problem! My horn doesn't blow...it sucks! My lights don't glow, they cast shadows! What should I do???

**papajam** · #10 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 08:33 PM

Change Gina's name to Doppleganger?

**papajam** · #11 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 67GTV
Are the older generators really that bad??

**Alex Csank** · #12 (**permalink**) 07-15-2003, 08:44 PM

Oh! I just figured it out! I had the battery in wrong! I switched the leads and now everything isn't from 'Bizarro Alfa World' anymore!

Seriously though...I sure am glad that this isn't the BritishBB.com, or the electrical section would be chock-full of troubles! With Alfas, almost all electrical problems can be attributed to a bad ground or corroded and dirty switch gear and terminals.

Cheers,

**67GTV** · #13 (**permalink**) 07-16-2003, 12:39 AM

Hmmm, I don't know. I have been ignoring all discussions about switching to alternators because my generator seems to work so well. Now you guys are making me nervous.

I upgraded my lights to H4 bulbs. They are much brighter than the sealed beams they replaced. I have an old AM/FM radio that does not draw much current. I rarely use my wipers and never use the heater fan. For some reason I always have warm air coming in through the 'system', but that's a request for advice for another day.

My generator light only comes on at idle, although the most load I'm putting on the generator at one time would be my lights and the radio. I'll have to try using all these devices at the same time.

I just bought a NOS AM/FM cassette deck with adjustable shafts that'll fit in my dash without having to make any cuts. Perhaps I will need to look into switching to an alternator after the stereo installation. Although it is rated at a paltry 25w peak power.

With the suggestions of switching to a new Delco alternator, what about using a Bosch alternator off a 2-liter Alfa engine? I have one that I was saving for the 2-liter transplant. Would I be looking at making bracket/spacer modifications? I do have the alternator bracket. And what about the fan belt? Are alternator belts longer or shorter than generator belts?

**Alex Csank** · #14 (**permalink**) 07-16-2003, 07:16 AM

Honestly Kai and all, I really tried to live with my generator. I figured if they lived with it in '69, so could I. However, in '69 the 'genny' was pushing 'juice' through new wires, etc.

Unless you plan on using your car only in the daytime in dry weather, it is worth changing to an alternator.

Now, if I had a trailer queen...it would be 100% 'originale'!

The Alfa alternator works fine, but the AC/Delco internal voltage regulator makes this a really easy and trouble-free swap. I chose the latter, YMMV.

Cheers,

MitchW · #15 (**permalink**) 07-16-2003, 07:50 AM

Hi Guys,

I'd talked with you (Alex) before about your Spider Jr. Mine is a euro model with guages in Italian metrics. How it got to Denver I'll never know (shaking ashes off of Groucho's cigar) but its a barrel of fun.

I originally replaced the brushes on the generator when I first got the car about 6 years ago and haven't had to mess with it since. I do mostly drive it on sunny days and the radio isn't worth playing. I've also got an Optima battery which I highly reccomend. I'm planning to update to an alternator but not until the old one fails. Right now its still charging okay, according to my voltmeter, its the dash circuit that's the problem and wouldn't be solved by an alternator, though a new regulator might do the trick.

Kai, I'd appreciate if you could check the output from your generator. I don't think it should go as high as 16v but I don't know for sure.

Thanks