voltage reg clicking

[Heath.Davis]

Hi,

Recently the voltage reg (external) in my 87 hilux started to click. if I switched off the engine it would go away when restarted but recently the click has stayed even after restarting and only goes away if I load up the electrical system (lights, fans, etc). All the earths and cable from alt has been replaced with big cable and a new battery fitted (well before problem started). When the reg clicks the volt meter shows the volts climbing to over 14v and then click it drops away then it climbs and click down it goes, about 1 per second and this sint engine speed related it is constant.

The alternator is the original unit by the looks of it and sits on a chev v6 and sits at over 13v at idle and up to just under 14v at full revs.

IS this an alternator issue (bushes etc) or a reg problem?

Cheers

[murcod]

Is it a solid state regulator?

[Heath.Davis]

Pass. It is the factory unit on the passenger side wheel fender.

A sparky I spoke to briefly mentioned that if the alt's brushes are worn then this could cause a clicking due to power fluctuations (or something to that effect), but couldnt confirm unless he was able to see it and test it himself.

Heath

[chimpboy]

It sounds like the alternator is failing to make enough power to maintain the voltage the regulator wants.

But whatever the cause, in your case it sounds like it might be an idea to avoid the whole problem and mount a new alternator with an internal regulator, maybe one made for your buick engine?

Jason