I had a 440 six pack guy come over the house and fine tune my car and he suddenly told me
to turn my car off quick! The reason my ballast resistor was burning up and the alternator was
very hot!! The voltage regulator popped and now is junk! Anyone have any ideas? ALL the wiring
is brand new! Help please!
You may have just run in to something I experienced on a client's vehicle before. He had replaced the stock alternator with a newer higher output alternator (read above 60 Amps) and the current exceeded the voltage regulator capacity. The regulator smoked up. I replaced it with the newer style regulator common to 70's and 80's cars that can handle more current. This could be your problem??? But only if the alternator is a newer higher output alternator.
There can be other reasons for the voltage regulator to fry, this is just one I experienced.
Another possibility (if you are running the stock alternator): is that the voltage regulator full fielded and sent maximum voltage down the line. This will cause the ballast resistor to burn up also.
FRATZOG Wrote:You may have just run in to something I experienced on a client's vehicle before. He had replaced the stock alternator with a newer higher output alternator (read above 60 Amps) and the current exceeded the voltage regulator capacity. The regulator smoked up. I replaced it with the newer style regulator common to 70's and 80's cars that can handle more current. This could be your problem??? But only if the alternator is a newer higher output alternator.
There can be other reasons for the voltage regulator to fry, this is just one I experienced.
Another possibility (if you are running the stock alternator): is that the voltage regulator full fielded and sent maximum voltage down the line. This will cause the ballast resistor to burn up also.
Can I drive the car or should I have it towed?
Found the problem. It was the ignition coil was shiat!
Fantastic! Glad to hear. But it's a new one for me.
Make sure you get a ballast ohm that matches the coil. I tested a few trying to get an exact 1 ohm and it's amazing how even the same part # vary.
Glad you found the problem, don't need any stinking fires :0
Is that voltage reg. a stock looking one that has been up graded to electronic? I know the old original (contact style) in some cases are not happy with the electronic ignition upgrade. If so, be sure the terminal that sticks out the side is tight. I seen where that terminal loosen up and dropped, grounding in out and burned up the wiring harness.