Hey guys, 86 305 tpi TA. Start it tonight and tach is bouncing all over,dome light is flickering, check engine light comes on. Notice volt gauge is a little high, give a little gas and gauge pegs 18 volts! rev again and everything falls to normal. turn off and try again same thing, verify with volt meter off back of alt. goes to 18. When I moved the positive battery cable a little it went to normal running again, just a fluke? I thought it was usually the volt reg in the alt. anyone have this before??? Not the greatest cables was going to change them anyhow. still think bad alt. Any help appreciated thanks

 

Ya think there might be A CLUE in there somewhere???

Check that cable REAL CAREFULLY at the ends for corrosion, bad connections, loose hardware, corrosion, old age, bad connections, corrosion, and so forth. Oh... and don't forget to look for corrosion, at the batt end especially.

Moving the cable didn't change anything about the alt. If the alt works right occasionally when the cable is doing its job occasionally, it'll do its job ALL THE TIME when ... the cable is doing its job ALL THE TIME.

 

The fact that you could move the cable around screams bad connection. Do what sofa advised and make it all clean and tight

 

understand, I am deff. checking the cables for issues. I could turn it a little if I tried to see if it was tight. I just wouldn't think it would make the alt. spike like that. But I know the above conditions you listed can do strange things to electrical items. Thanks guys