My jeep won't charge

I can not get my Cj5 to charge and it is frustrating me. It has an externally regulated alternator. I traced, reparied and properly connected the factory harness to were it needed to be(the best I could atleast). I also replaced the the voltage regulator and the alt. thinking that both went bad but I'm still not getting a charge at any rpm.

I have a few ideas to what the proplem maybe but I'm sure. Does the voltage regulator need to be grounded? The amp light will shut off when the jeep is running so it must be getting some current out of the alternator right? One final request could sombody post a picture or a detailed diagram of the back side of the alternator.

Thanks in advance

Don

 

The '72 or '74 Jeep TSMs will cover your alternator. trailforge.com and oljeep.com resp.

Wiring diagram will tell you if the case of the regulator needs to be grounded. If it does not it will have a dedicted ground wire that goes to one of the attaching screws, typically.

 

Thanks for the links but they have me confused even more.:?

The new/reman alt I bought has a capacitor on it (I think thats what is atleast from what I have read on other sites) and my old one did not. I thought you could omit the capitor if you were running an amp light? I checked the alt/engine wiring according to the wiring diagrams in my Haynes manual and they seem to be ran to right place, but the manual lacked a decent diagram for the alt so I could have that wrong.

Thanks again.

Don

 

Did you get it working yet? The capacitor, on some older models was used on the alternator and/or voltage regulator to reduce radio humm/clicking/noises. They also used one on the coil to reduce ignition wire noise transmitted to another cars radio. Usually heard on AM radios.

 

No not yet. I think I need to replace the voltage regulator since I didn't replace it with a new one when I bought the alternator. I have a new regulator sitting right beside me and just have to go put it in as soon as I get some motivation to do so. Since my Jeep dosen't have a radio I really shouldn't need the capacitor, right?

Sorry about all these questions this electrical stuff is new to me.

thanks, Don

 

No radio-no capacitor. I suggest however that you heed Timgr's advice on researching those diagrams for your year model. Don't know if your alternator is stock as only physical size - polarity - voltage keeps the PO's from putting just about any type/kind of alternator on a jeep. However if it was mine, I would run a separate ground wire from the regulator to the alternator even if there is one in the factory loom. Sure wouldn't hurt.