Does this sound like a regulator problem

[younglion]

Vy ss ute series 1.

Driving about a month ago check alternator light comes on for a bit then goes off, comes on and off about once a week. Then yesterday all my warnings come on, ABS, Airbag and check alternator. I pulled over and turned the car off, it wouldnt start again coz the batt was flat. Jump started and drove home (all dash lights and speedo tacho etc wasnt working). Left it over night. Woke up and started first time this morning with no jump start.

Does this sound like the alternator is gone? Or the regulator? How can i chech the alternator? I have a multi meter what should the readings be? Or how can i find out whether its the regulator? With a new alternator costing about 300 i dont wanna get one if its just the regulator.

I did a search and found conflicting solutions. Anyone had this problem?

Another thing if i just keep jump starting and driving it. Is this safe? (until i can find out whats wrong and how much)

Also. I had the air con on yesterday when it happened. And the whole dash would turn off and on when i would turn the air con on and off. while the car was running


Edit: Just took it for a drive and as soon as i switched on the air con. All the warnings came up and i lost all the dash again also the car felt sluggish to drive. I turned it off and again the dreaded clicking of a dead battery. Surely this is the alternator?

[younglion]

Idling Multimeter Reading with all electrics off is 13.7

Idling Multimeter Reading with lights and air con on is 12.6

[-scyth-]

id be checking the battery. is one of the cells of the battery dead?

[younglion]

How do i check that? I have no idea about the battery

[wortus]

If the battery is dead it would not start off the battery. Put a multimeter on th ebattery and record the voltage, start the car and check it again if it has gone up to around 13.6 then the alternator is charging.
At a gues I'd suggest you take the regulator out of your alternator and check the length of the brushes, they wear down and lose contact with the slip rings and the fault light will be intermittent at first.
Take off the drive belt and spin the alternator if it spins ok and there is no play in the bearings then leave it. As far as the brushes go most auto elecs will tell you to buy a whole regulatoe for about $60 however you just need to buy the brushes and replace them you solder them in using a fairly hefty soldering iron dont worry about the slip rings if worn the new brushes will quickly wear in. I replaced 2 sets of brushes on my VN like this with no other problems from the alternator at all.
Don't forget to disconnect your battery's negative terminal before you undo any wires on the alternator or take out the regulator because you wil lshort them out to ground.

[colgf]

I agree with previous reply , you will find your brushes are at fault , coomon with these alternators , repco have replacement regulator/brushes assy for about $0 if you have an account . simple to fit, ......

[wortus]

Last time mine played up a new regulator was about $60 and the brushes from an auto elec were $10. It's a 10 minute job to solder them in just make a note of how much of th eold brushes is inside the regulator body when positioning the new ones.

[jl80wn]

i have a very similar problem with my v6 i just had altinator changed about a year ago and just recently its doing this similar thing

[wortus]

check your brushes before you pay an auto elec $200 or more for a reco alternator. You can replace the bushes for about $10 or a regulator for about $60.