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Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:11 pm

I put my rebuilt engine back in and connected all my wires. While using a test light to check all the wires with the ignition on, I noticed an "electrical" smell coming from the generator. There was also heat radiating up from it. Is this normal? I didn't leave the ignition on for long, but have done the test a few times. The power is sent to the coil and generator when the ignition is turned on and everytime the smell and heat return.

Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:46 pm

Better check your regulator under the rear seat or your wiring... something is for sure shorting out/not right.

Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:49 pm

Wiring is all new and per the wiring diagram. How do I tell if the regulator is bad?

Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:30 am

(1) Check the voltage at the battery while revving the engine; should be 13.5 to 14 volts, not higher. Higher means bad regulator.

(2) Take off the generator belt and spin the generator by hand, clockwise. (Do this with engine off, for safety, Duh !!!). there should be some resistance but not a whole lot; and there shouldn't be any bad sounds either. This is a test of its bearings, alignment, etc.

Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:07 am

Merling wrote: Wiring is all new and per the wiring diagram. How do I tell if the regulator is bad?

What wiring diagram did you use?

Is the generator a new/rebuilt? used? Could have a short internal.

Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:57 pm

Wiring diagram was from the Bently manual. The generator is the same one that was on the engine before the rebuild. It was working fine before. If there is an internal short is there a way to find / fix it? I don't know how to isolate the issue beyond the wiring.

I do have another question though. When the ignition is on, power is going to the D+ post. If the generator charges the battery, does it flow down the DF wire, through the regulator and back to the battery?

Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:26 pm

Here's an update...removed the connection at the 61 post on the regulator to the generator light and looks like the smell and heat aren't happening. I've got the generator light hooked up to the ignition switch so it gets hot in the on position.

I went over to Kragens and picked up a new regulator and am going to see if that solves it. This is my first project car and I've been getting all my stuff online. Nice to know the local stores actually carry some stuff on hand.

Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:49 pm

Hiya Merl,

Just a thought................

Is your generator oriented correctly? Is the fan plate oriented correctly inside the fan shroud?

Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:46 pm

Yeah, everything is orientated correctly. It isn't the regulator as the new one does the same thing. I've done all I can think of with regards to the wiring and all seems ok. My coil and gen wires are reading 12volts. The D+ post on the gen is the one that is heating up. I turn the ignition on for about 15 seconds, start to smell that "smell" and feel some heat rising. The brush near the D+ post is warm and so is the wire eye connector when I take it off.

Does this mean there is a short or something in the gen? How does this happen and is there a way to troubleshoot and fix it? I've been working on this for almost three months with several obstacles that I was eventually able to take care of, but this is beyond me. I'd hate to have to go through the process of putting a new generator in. GGGRRRRRR

Sun Dec 07, 2008 12:16 pm

So I took the fan belt off and polarized for a few seconds.

I then hooked my wires back to the gen to see if the smell and heat were still an issue. The gen started spinning as soon as I turn the key on. I'm guessing this is what was causing the heat and smell while the belt was on. It's trying to spin but of course dosen't have enough power to move the crank shaft pully.

Does the generator need a hot wire? The D+ connection is getting 12volts of power from the regulator as soon as the key is turned on. I would think the gen should be pushing power not using it. Almost like it's running backwards??? This is the last thing I need to get done so I can finally start the car and get it out of my garage.

Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:21 pm

Yes it's been a while, but somone sent me a message if I had resolved this and I did so figured I should close this out...

It was a wiring issue. I have the street works wiring kit and I had power going directly to the gen and oil lights instead of having power going to the speedo itself (that connection at the bottom of the speedo that hooks into the gen, oil, and turn signal lights). I had a ground wire going to that speedo connection. I removed the hot wires from the gen and oil lights so the wires started at the lights and went directly to the regular and oil switch. I then put a hot wire on the speedo and that solved it.