[Victor]

Hi Eric,
I have a 1973 Dodge Charger with a 440 engine, electronic ignition (circa 1973) and an automatic transmission and a 280H cam.
I built this car for my wife as a gift (see picture)…but it is unreliable.
The engine stalls when I turn on the lights while in the transmission is in Drive and I hold the brakes down. (Like in traffic).
I was trying to diagnose my alternator by following your video on YouTube, but I can’t get the alternator voltage reading because the engine just dies when I turn the lights on (the video said to turn on all your accessories to check the alternator.. However, I can drive it with the lights on, but I cant be stopped in traffic with the headlights on. Any obvious things I should be checking?
(I have my negative battery cable going to the engine block and from that point on the block I have a ground strap going to my frame and another ground strap to my unibody).
thanks and very respectfully,
Victor

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[Victor]

Thanks 451 Mopar,
I Checked the voltage at the regulator and this is what I got
Cold at 1250 RPM (in park, no accessories) 0V at voltage regulator body
Warm at 1500 RPM ( in park lights on) .008V at voltage regulator body
Operating Temp 2000 RPM (in park lights on and AC running) .02 V at voltage regulator body
I only have lights and AC, no radio or any other options installed
So, I’m not sure if .02 is too high, but its not zero.
Does this offer any clues?
thanks!

[Victor]

new regulator, but that doesn’t mean its a good one.
I will check the headlights next

[Victor]

Update.
if I follow the YouTube video and do the test in neutral at 1500 rpm this
Car off – 12.6V
Idle accessories off- 14 74V
1500 RPM acc off – 14.74 V
all accys on 1500 – 15.1 V

[Victor]

I’ll recheck my connections. it all works if I rev it t0 1500 in neutral. I’ll get some one else to double check my work as well

[Victor]

The answer question is yes it does stall after 1-2 seconds when the lights are pulled on in Drive, unless I rev it up to 1500-2000 while standing on the brakes.
It does not do this in park or neutral
I forgot to mention I have a mechanical fuel pump

[Author]

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