Hello everyone. The problem im having is while plowing my driveway today my windshield wipers started going super fast and also my defrost motor. Then my truck just quit. It will not even crank over. Tried jumping it and it still will not crank. This happened last year one time and after a couple days of scrathing my head and wiggling every wire under the hood it finally started. Could it be a voltage regulator gone bad? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Anthony
moparcop2003
12-22-2004, 12:26 AM
I'll see what I can find out, my wipers go haywire everynow and then when I get on it.
JamesJ2525
12-22-2004, 12:31 AM
Does your plow have an electric lift? Any electrical accessories added? It may be putting a large load on the electrical system. I keep a multitester in my toolbox, it can come in handy with some of these problems. You could check voltage to and from the regulator when this happens as well as the battery. Just some suggestions.
Dodgevanman
12-22-2004, 05:59 AM
Sounds like you truck blew a fusible link or the master fuse. If the voltage regulator went bad it could allow the alternator to put a full load on the system.
moparcop2003
12-23-2004, 02:21 PM
"I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the connector to the voltage regulator (napa#vrc38) & a bad ground switch (I have my battery kill switch hooked up to the negative). Check the grounds first, that would keep it from starting, not the regulator. When in doubt run yet another ground wire, one to the motor & one to the frame. " Hasselholf ( offroadexchange.com)
Had some similar problem with a friends 70 440 Cuda too. It turned out to be the bottom of the ignitionlock. It could killthe engine just like that without any warning but it could be started right away after. That wasn't like yours but still.... Oxidation on contactsurfaces can do the most unusual things too, especially the ground cable. You take an voltage meter and find out that everything should work but it doesn't, that's just because it will lead some voltage, enough for the meter but not enough to work. The Amp gauge at old RCs are usual melted down at the back of the gauge but I think the later body have an better gauge and wiring than the old one like mine. That was a few thoughts..... good luck, Sten ( offroadexchange.com)
It could also bve a fusable link near the battery. Dodge was found of those back then and when they go they do just as you described. I had one blow my stereo amp too once. If you shut it off you can't get it refired until you replace the link. The reason the wipers and fan ran fast is the alternator was then unhooked from the battery and everything was getting max volts.
It could also be the connecton to the back of the ampmeter in the dash if it's a 72-80 truck. That will unhook the alt too.
Gotta love that Dodge wiring!
Hope this helps
Bill Cooke (offroadexchange.com)
Anthony007
12-24-2004, 01:03 AM
Thanks for all the responces. The problem seems to have been a bad ground. The cable was just barely loose so sometimes it worked and sometimes it didnt. Before that I did change the voltage regulator so now im not sure if the bad ground caused the wipers to go super fast or a bad regulator. Any how its fixed now and I've plowed about 2 feet of snow out of my driveway. Thanks again to all that replied and HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS.......Anthony
