I just got done rebuilding my 302 and Im trying to break her in but the damn battery keeps dying everytime i get back from driving it around the block. Everytime I get the battery recharged or a new battery it starts up fine once, but its dead after ive ran it for a bit and shut it off. Ive got a new battery, alternator, solenoid, the voltage regulator is less than a year old, and all my connections are good. Ive come down to either 1. wiring is screwed up somewhere. 2. The regulator is bad or 3. Im just stupid and the car hates me.

can anyone tell me how much voltage there is supposed to be when the car is running? or how to test if the VR is bad?

by the way it starts great when its jumped, anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

well like you said, regulator of wiring is wrong. their cant b anything that wrong if the bat, alt are fine. quick way is just to got to a csk auto, napa, auto zone etc. they all have comps, that will measure the fun stuff and its free. after that (if the guy checkin the bat isnt a dumb a$$) he can usually figure it out. as of right now tho, im guessing your probably having a connection somewhere, pull out a voltage meter and check it out

 

With the car running, remove the positive cable from the battery. If it keeps running thecharging system is working, if it dies the charging system is not working.

 

+1..... negative side of the battery terminal works also.

 

Before you do that, make sure you have a good life insurance policy and you have said goodbye to all who know you.

 

Why would that be?

 

Instead of taking a chance of frying a diode in your alternator by lifting a battery terminal, get a cheap digital volt meter and test the voltage across the battery with the motor running. The voltage should be between 13.5 and 15 volts. If it's 12 volts or less, you have a charging problem.

 

If it is dying after just "taking it around the block", then it certainly has to be more than a charging issue. Somewhere, you have a serious draw that is taking down the battery. Does it only happen after driving or will it draw down just sitting in the garage with the key off? It sounds to me that you have a short somewhere that needs attention before it can potentially result in a fire.

Try taking the charging system out of the equation and go for a drive. With no headlights, stereo, etc., and even with an MSD type ignition, you should be able to drive a lot more than you are on the battery alone.

Good luck!

 

Wont fry a diode wont kill anybody, will work just fine. The alt puts out the same with or without the battery hooked up. Or it would fry a diode when the battery was full charged and can't take anymore. Unlike some people hear, the charging system has no brain, It just does what it is made to do.

 

i know this is gonna seem stupid to say, but is the alternator belt tight enough?