Charging issues on '58 cj5 ...help!

Battery on my 58 CJ5 will not stay charged. I have pulled the generator and had it checked, and have replaced the voltage regulator twice. All the wiring is correct as far as I can tell and it's not a draw from the battery. Does anyone have any idea what else it could be? I am out of answers. Thanks!

 

ok don't hit me but how is the battery? Did you take it to the parts store for a load test to see if it is good or bad? Have you put it on a charger to charge and if so, how long did you charge it? Sometimes even a new or fairly new battery turns out to be the problem.

 

Simple test - disconnect the battery and let it sit for a few days. Then check the charge.

Your FLAPS can load test a battery for you.

There's also that polarization thing that you have to do with generators - not too familiar, but a search will turn up some answers.

 

Did you flash-polarize the regulator(s) when newly installed?

Is the generator actually charging the battery enough, or at all? Cables clean and tight at BOTH ends?

How fast does the battery go flat - minutes, hours, days?

Put an amp meter or volt meter in between the negative battery terminal and the ground cable, see if there is any juice flowing to a short or phantom load when everything is switched off.

 

I did an alternator upgrade for less than 100 bucks and have not had a problem since...just my 2 cents...if you're intersted,search the forum for the info on making the bracket.....

 

I had the same problem with mine. It turned out that the armature wire and the ground wires were swapped at the regulator. Now it works perfectly. I figured it out with the wiring diagram and a meter to check continuity.