Where is my voltage regulator???

[saabnut2001]

I know this is a noob question, but I can't find the voltage regulator in my 1985 Dodge 600 ES Turbo. I have looked in the Chilton and Haynes repair manuals, and can't find any diagrams that show the location of the part. Can anybody help??

[Proeyebryan]

I had the same question once in my 1987 Shelby charger with the turbo I engine and the guy who fixed it for me said that the voltage regulator was actully part of the altenator. So I replaced it and bam all better. Hope this helps.

Bryan GLHS#902

[Lone Eagle]

Yep.....VR is inside the alt, and on the newer(89-up) cars, there's a second one in the SMEC/SBEC.

[tryingbe]

Voltage regulator is inside the computer next to the battery. You can't just change voltage regulator by itself, you'll have to change the entire computer.

[NAJ]

I am not familar with the vehicle but Alldata is showing with a Bosch or Mitsubishi alternator the voltage regulator is internal to the alternator and with a Chrysler alternator it can be external or part of the PM.

[Screamin4banger]

^ yup the Chrysler alt has 4 wires going to it (power, field, field, ground) and the VR is integrated in the power module in turbo/FI cars.

For those who are curious, carb'd cars will have an old-fashioned Chrysler VR on the firewall.

Those external VRs can be spliced into the harness to the power module on FI/MPI cars if a replacement PM cant be found - but will never be perfect.

[impuresoul2k3]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screamin4banger Those external VRs can be spliced into the harness to the power module on FI/MPI cars if a replacement PM cant be found - but will never be perfect.

Mine worked fine for the 3-4 months the car was running before an oil line broke and the engine blew.

[Dominator]

I am having a similar issue. I have a 1985 Shelby Charger
and I think the previous owner spliced a VR into the
harness. There was one on the passenger fender. I knew
something didn't look right, and that explains it. I think
mine just went bad, was getting about 17.5 volts when
running, 12.5 when turned off.

I just looked at replacements at Schucks and they are
about $24.99 & $53.99 for Niehoff and Borg Warner
respectively. The Niehoff has a one year warranty and
the BWD has a three year.

I have the part numbers in my car, I'll post them when I
get back to the computer.

BWD part # R296 $53.99 3yr war.
Niehoff # AL154CS $24.99 1yr war.

[charger R/T]

NAJ is correct. There were some cars that do have an internally regulated alternators there was a thread here a while ago and the guy posted a picture of it. The thread was driving me crazy because I have never seen an internally regulated moper. Most of us think all mopars are externally regulated with either a fender mounted regulator (carbed) or a regulator in the computer (fuel injection) but there are some out there from the mid 80's that are internally regulated. Parts books do list one if you look them up try 85.

To the original poster you need to figure out what alternator you have. The old square back chrysler unit and the denso units are externally regulated. The ones NAJ listed are internally regulated. A picture of the unit might help.

To the poster that said some have 2 regulators. I have never seen such a beast and can't see one working or the need to put 2 regulators on a charging system.

To the poster that said a previous owners cut the wiring and added the external regulator. It has been done quite a bit when the regulator in the computer fails. It can be cheaper to fix then replacing the computer. But some do report that after doing this a code sometimes sets. Its not a big deal. It sets because the computer checks what it is charging the battery at and it doesn't know it isn't doing it anymore and the external regulator just charges the battery outside of the computers specs. If you need help to diagnoise it post back. If you unplug that regulator the alternator should stop charging and the voltage should drop back to 12.5 and slowly drop as the engine runs. If it stays high still they probably piggy backed the new regulator on top of the old one. Bad way to do it.
Tim

[Dominator]

I will look into it a little more next week. I did a lot to it this
week and went kinda over my "car allowance" budget. I am
going to get the replacement VR from Schucks and see if that
does the trick.

I have read and been told to look at all the ground
wires/straps to make sure the ground is good on everything.
Is there a checklist of grounds to go from? I am very new to
this car and I don't know where to look for them all.

Also, it has some sort of electrical pulsing going on too.
The gauge needles pulsing and the static noise resonating
too. Hopefully that will be fixed when I swap in the new
voltage regulator and clean up the wiring.

[charger R/T]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominator I will look into it a little more next week. I did a lot to it this week and went kinda over my "car allowance" budget. I am going to get the replacement VR from Schucks and see if that does the trick. I have read and been told to look at all the ground wires/straps to make sure the ground is good on everything. Is there a checklist of grounds to go from? I am very new to this car and I don't know where to look for them all. Also, it has some sort of electrical pulsing going on too. The gauge needles pulsing and the static noise resonating too. Hopefully that will be fixed when I swap in the new voltage regulator and clean up the wiring.

Before buying one unplug it and see if the pulsing stops. And when you do replace it make sure it is grounded good the external regulator do last very long (5 seconds) with no ground and are short lived with a poor ground. A poor ground will also raise voltage since the 2 wires hooked to it one is 12v+ and the regulator uses that wire and the ground it gets from the case to read voltage. the other wire is the ground side of the field circuit to the alternator. The regulator varies a ground on that wire more ground higher charge less ground lower charge get it?

Start at the battery neg cable make sure it is grounded to the block good and the connection is clean. also it there are any other wires coming off that cable that they are clean and tight. There should also be under the hood a strap going from the engine to the body. make sure it is there and in good condition. It goes missing quite often or breaks.

I see your in Alaska are there any junk yards near by? Just about any mopar from 1970 to the mid 80's would use the same regulator and a bag full of them is cheap. Or someone down here could send you a bag full for less then they want for one. 50 bucks sounds way too high for one.
Did a little search on advance autos site they have the 40 dollar regulator but they also show a 17.99 one and it shows it fits just about anything that used the external regulator. If you have a little time order one online Advance Auto Parts - quality auto parts and accessories I would send a link to the item but it never works on their site I used 1984 dodge aries with a 2.2 carb engine it came back with a niefhoff unit part number AL154CS
Tim