Charging problems 18 VOLTS

[Old Goat]

I planned on getting some A pillar gauges, maybe I’ll be doing that sooner than later now.

Only place I have found the Pillar Pod, for year 82 - 86 is here

Black Triple Pillar Gauge Pod for 1982-1986 Ford F-Series

GlowShift Bull Nose Triple Pillar Pods for the 1982-1986 Ford F-Series are Truck-Specific OBS Ford Gauge Pods that Replace the A-Pillar & Hold 52mm Gauges.

www.glowshiftdirect.com

Probably should order one before they are NLA.

I installed a Stewart Warner Volt Gauge in the middle of the
Instrument Cluster where the Tachometer would have been
installed. Will need to cut into the plastic on the back side
though.
I have 4 or 5 spare Instrument clusters if I ever come across
a Tachometer and decide I absolutely need one. Easy to swap over.


Goat

 

[thedomgardner]

Yep it was just my multi meter the whole time. Bought a new meter and it shows 13.2 consistently. Tried the old one again and it showed 18v again. Threw it right in the garbage haha.

 

[Jesus Freak]

I knew it was a wire! But like any good mystery novel, it was the bit part character that was only mentioned in passing and then in a strange turn off events this seemingly insignificant character pops on the scene as the murderer!.... and the really happy ending part of this thread is that our favorite hero characters(alternator and regulator)were alive the whole time we were certain that they were dead! Justice was served, by throwing the wicked evil DVOM in the trash (I hope you got the battery out of it) and a new cameo appearance of a new uncorrupted character shows up and all is lovely. I hope you celebrated with cookies! Cause you got outta this thing cheap!

 

[divemaster5734]

Scratch what I said before…it does still charge with field wire unplugged. Does that mean my new alternator is bad?

Edit: FIGURED IT OUT. My multi meter reads 4 volts high I guess. Borrowed my dad meter just to rule mine out…says 13.2 volts. Even though 0 is 0, I guess 13 means 17 haha. Thanks for the help guys, glad I can go to bed peacefully tonight.

There's also a possibility your meter wasn't "zeroed".
Happens to me when reading dc amps all the time, I'll forget to zero to start and read 1 or 2 amps higher than normal.

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

There's also a possibility your meter wasn't "zeroed".
Happens to me when reading dc amps all the time, I'll forget to zero to start and read 1 or 2 amps higher than normal.

I hear you on the amps but I've never see that happen with volts.

Also, your truck should be charging at 13.8-14.6v-ish. 13.2 is low, you may run into weak batteries in the future from low charge.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Also, your truck should be charging at 13.8-14.6v-ish. 13.2 is low, you may run into weak batteries in the future from low charge.

This is right unless the 13.2 volts is only at an idle. If the alternator puts out more voltage at higher RPM, then he should still be fine. I'll be another one who recommends a 3G upgrade if there's any more future problems.