I rewired my '51 GMC 1/2 ton with a harness from Chevy Duty. I went to NAPA and got a new Delco alternator. Put the harness in along wit a turn signal,also from CD,and everything worked.
The next morning the battery was dead. Put the battery on the charger and put a continuity tester between the + & - cables. Went through the truck and when I disconnect the 10ga wire on the alternator the circuit is broken. This is the wire that goes up to the ammeter.
A buddie, a Toyota mechanic, siad it sounds like the regulator is bad. So I take it back to NAPA and they put it on their tester and say it's charging so it's OK. I tell them about the problem I am having and they just look at me. No answer given. So I go to another NAPA and the guy does the same test with the same results. But he says, i hope isay this right, the alternator has been "energized" and after the engine is shut down it needs some type of load on one of the wires to discharge it. He says to do this with a lightbulb set-up.
Hey I'm just a woodworker and my truck is ready to go except for this. I took it out for a few little trips this weekend and then dissconnect the battery.
OK guys help me out so I can be "On the Road Again"!!
