HELP!!!!!!!! ELECTRICAL pains in the butt!!!

[new71owner]

ohhhhhhhhhh..... ok guys got a slight problem here.... i have this 71 charger and ive been having problems with the electrical system. first off it takes about five tries before i can actually start the car. on the first try it will run for a full second then die then i have to crank it 4 more times before it runs. when i try to take off from a standstill if i accellerate too fast it sort of "bogs" or sputters so i have to let off and let it catch its breath. and when im drivin at nite the headlights flare up when im on the gas and dim down to almost zero visibility when im off the gas. this worries me. i relplaced the voltage regulator about two weeks ago, checked battery connections, checked voltage regulator connection to fire wall, i dont think its alternator but the drive belt tension is a little loose but that shouldnt be it? help me out guys.... you know way more than i do!

[Deleted]

Do you have a digital multimeter that you can use to take some voltage readings?

[new71owner]

i was going to go to my dads house to get a reading on it but im afraid to drive it there its about 10 miles on the highway.

[Nacho-RT74]

the dimming is stuff is kinda normal with stock alts and even more with rusted terminals and large pulleys.

Voltage regulator will make nothing if you don get charge at iddle what is the main Mopar Charging sytem problem.

If you want to keep "stock" with a plug and play job on the cheap way, get a lates Mopar 70s alt that are able to drive around 80-90 amps and tey are able to charge at iddle for two reasons: smaller pulley and wider stator. At same rpms they are able to capture wider magnetic field, what produces more amperes output.

another option is upgrade your existant alt what is not hard or really expensive:
store.alternatorparts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=55

Also will need to upgrade alt wiring up to ammeter on cluster. Just parallel wires ( 8 gauge is enough ) throught firewall, from alt sut to amm, then to starter realy witha fuse link will be enough.

Now about the engine problem... it could be from electrical to carb. Be sure you have good timming, good conditions distribuitor etc.

[hotrodder]

#PopCorn#

[new71owner]

yeah i just hope i dont destroy it on the way to my dads house that would just suck the life out of me

[Deleted]

I would suggest that everyone who works on cars should own at least a cheap digital multimeter. As Nacho stated, dimming headlights is not at all uncommon on a old Mopar as they tended to not charge well (or at all) at idle speeds. Every old Mopar I have owned has done the same thing to some degree. Tightening the alternator belt is a basic step that should be done 1st. Once that is done, I would check the voltage at the back of the ALT and at the battery both at idle and off idle.

As far as the car bogging down when accelerating, I would first check dwell (assuming it has points), timing, and then proceed to carb adjustment. Once again, you will need some basic equipment-a dwell meter and a timing light, and a vacuum gauge.

[hotrodder]

I had a multimeter from Mac Tools..... Somehow... It decided to dissapear on me, I have not been a very happy person since. It wasn't exactly the cheap one they offer, it was digital (with a whole lot of different functions), not one with a little ol needle, or anything like that...

[wjmopar]

Sounds familier. Things around here (especially tools) seem to grow legs and walk away, as nobody has the foggiest idea where they went!!

[Deleted]

www.mymopar.com/dimlights.htm