mvasil

85 Mustang GT has been through more batteries than I can count. Can’t
figure out what the problem is. After driving for several miles, you
can smell the battery acid, and have had at least 2 ’explode’ (luckily
no one was hurt except a little acid in my face once). Checked
grounding, etc - still same problems. I’m going through a battery
every month *at least* and this is getting OLD! Can ANYONE help with
this??? 8O

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ironrod

An alternator is capable of producing more voltage than your battery is
capable of handing. The regulator works by limiting the output. The last
time my brushes went the problem manifested itself by maxing out the
voltmeter. Another place to look is at the alternator sense line, if it is
not hooked up correctly it could be signaling for max output.

"mvasil" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
news:1_603451_23300e6f28224e913ca638567a585b57@autoforumz.com...
> 85 Mustang GT has been through more batteries than I can count. Can't
> figure out what the problem is. After driving for several miles, you
> can smell the battery acid, and have had at least 2 'explode' (luckily
> no one was hurt except a little acid in my face once). Checked
> grounding, etc - still same problems. I'm going through a battery
> every month *at least* and this is getting OLD! Can ANYONE help with
> this??? 8O
>
> --
> Posted using the http://www.autoforumz.com interface, at author's request
> Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
> Topic URL:
http://www.autoforumz.com/Ford-Musta...ict123956.html
> Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report abuse:
http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=603451

.boB

mvasil wrote:
> 85 Mustang GT has been through more batteries than I can count. Can’t
> figure out what the problem is. After driving for several miles, you
> can smell the battery acid, and have had at least 2 ’explode’ (luckily
> no one was hurt except a little acid in my face once). Checked
> grounding, etc - still same problems. I’m going through a battery
> every month *at least* and this is getting OLD! Can ANYONE help with
> this??? 8O
>
Too much voltage. Check your charging system. Around here, Autozone and Pep
Boys will do it for free.

--
..boB
1997 HD FXDWG - Turbocharged!
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1966 FFR Cobra - Ongoing project

mvasil

"ironrod" wrote:
> An alternator is capable of producing more voltage than your
> battery is
> capable of handing. The regulator works by limiting the
> output. The last
> time my brushes went the problem manifested itself by maxing
> out the
> voltmeter. Another place to look is at the alternator sense
> line, if it is
> not hooked up correctly it could be signaling for max output.
>
> "mvasil" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
> news:1_603451_23300e6f28224e913ca638567a585b57@autoforumz.com...
> > 85 Mustang GT has been through more batteries than I can
> count. Can't
> > figure out what the problem is. After driving for several
> miles, you
> > can smell the battery acid, and have had at least 2
> 'explode' (luckily
> > no one was hurt except a little acid in my face once).
> Checked
> > grounding, etc - still same problems. I'm going through a
> battery
> > every month *at least* and this is getting OLD! Can ANYONE
> help with
> > this??? 8O
> >
> > --
> > Posted using the http://www.autoforumz.com interface, at author's request
> > Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet
> standards
> > Topic URL:
> http://www.autoforumz.com/Ford-Musta...ict123956.html
> > Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report
> abuse:
> http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=603451

Where is the alternator sense line?

Thanks!

ironrod

Before you try anything else check your brushes first, they are wear items
and are real easy to fix. I that doesn't work try the following. Now I'm
assuming your 85 is like my 88, if so then the sense line is one of the
three wires coming from the plug in the side of the alternator. The
heaviest wire is the one that goes back to the battery and supplies charging
current to the electrical system. Of the two smaller ones one goes to the
warning light, and the other is the voltage sensing line. Try disconnecting
one of the smaller wires and see what happens. If your warning light comes
on you got the wrong one. Once you find the right one, a down and dirty fix
is to hook up the sense line to the positive side of the battery. Don't
hook the warning light wire up by mistake or you will let all the magic
smoke out of the box.

"mvasil" <DoNotEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
news:1_604159_44a7c0f1a7915e0bc1c4d549dad8460c@autoforumz.com...
> "ironrod" wrote:
> > An alternator is capable of producing more voltage than your
> > battery is
> > capable of handing. The regulator works by limiting the
> > output. The last
> > time my brushes went the problem manifested itself by maxing
> > out the
> > voltmeter. Another place to look is at the alternator sense
> > line, if it is
> > not hooked up correctly it could be signaling for max output.
> >
> > "mvasil" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
> > news:1_603451_23300e6f28224e913ca638567a585b57@autoforumz.com...
> > > 85 Mustang GT has been through more batteries than I can
> > count. Can't
> > > figure out what the problem is. After driving for several
> > miles, you
> > > can smell the battery acid, and have had at least 2
> > 'explode' (luckily
> > > no one was hurt except a little acid in my face once).
> > Checked
> > > grounding, etc - still same problems. I'm going through a
> > battery
> > > every month *at least* and this is getting OLD! Can ANYONE
> > help with
> > > this??? 8O
> > >
> > > --
> > > Posted using the http://www.autoforumz.com interface, at author's
request
> > > Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet
> > standards
> > > Topic URL:
> >
http://www.autoforumz.com/Ford-Musta...ict123956.html
> > > Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report
> > abuse:
> > http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=603451
>
> Where is the alternator sense line?
>
> Thanks!

cprice@here.com

85 still used a voltage regulator mounted on the firewall behing the
battery and starter solenoid. Remove your alternator and voltage
regulator and take em to one the shops suggested by Bob below and have
them tested.

In the days before readily available test facilities at parts counters,
I usually replaced the voltage regulator first (~$20 part).

..boB wrote:

> mvasil wrote:
>
>> 85 Mustang GT has been through more batteries than I can count. Can’t
>> figure out what the problem is. After driving for several miles, you
>> can smell the battery acid, and have had at least 2 ’explode’ (luckily
>> no one was hurt except a little acid in my face once). Checked
>> grounding, etc - still same problems. I’m going through a battery
>> every month *at least* and this is getting OLD! Can ANYONE help with
>> this??? 8O
>>
> Too much voltage. Check your charging system. Around here,
> Autozone and Pep Boys will do it for free.
>

ironrod

Since you don't have an internally regulated alternator, ignore my previous
post. Like the man said, remove the regulator and have it tested. You can
also perform a down and dirty test yourself by measuring the voltage from
the positive terminal of the battery to ground. Have someone rev the engine
for you while you look at the voltmeter, output should remain constant at
around 14 volts. If the voltage changes radically or is just plain too high
then your regulator is suspect. If the regulator checks good then we are
back to the possibly of a wiring problem.


<cprice@here.com> wrote in message news:42AD9730.3090006@here.com...
>
> 85 still used a voltage regulator mounted on the firewall behing the
> battery and starter solenoid. Remove your alternator and voltage
> regulator and take em to one the shops suggested by Bob below and have
> them tested.
>
> In the days before readily available test facilities at parts counters,
> I usually replaced the voltage regulator first (~$20 part).
>
> .boB wrote:
>
> > mvasil wrote:
> >
> >> 85 Mustang GT has been through more batteries than I can count. Can’t
> >> figure out what the problem is. After driving for several miles, you
> >> can smell the battery acid, and have had at least 2 ’explode’ (luckily
> >> no one was hurt except a little acid in my face once). Checked
> >> grounding, etc - still same problems. I’m going through a battery
> >> every month *at least* and this is getting OLD! Can ANYONE help with
> >> this??? 8O
> >>
> > Too much voltage. Check your charging system. Around here,
> > Autozone and Pep Boys will do it for free.
> >