LUVTruck.com

Hi all,

First time post, awesome site here. I have already done some good repairs from the information provided!

So, I have been trying to weed out the problem with my 78 stock LUV. Last week everything ran fine, next day go to start up the truck and the GEN light was full on. After ten seconds or so, truck dies like you turned it off. Turn key over again, GEN light on, ten - fifteen seconds later, engine dies.
Went on to the this site, got some ideas and replaced the regulator. That caused the GEN light to not be on all the time, I can get the truck running and no real problems after the replacement regulator.

BUT...

I am still having an electrical issue. When I would turn on the headlights, the temp gauge would suddenly start climbing all the way to HOT. I also did not have wiper power and the radio did not work.
Saw it was time to tackle the fuse block clean. Went to CAREFULLY remove first clip, snapped without any pressure! Great, I need a new clip, turns out to be dated technology, so I end up replacing the fuse block with a brand new one.
Install goes pretty good, and I turn the truck on, I got radio and wiper power now, however, SOMETIMES when I turn the headlights on, the the temp gauge starts to climb and I cannot use the turn signals. I drove it for a bit, and when the truck idles low, the GEN light starts to glow to full.

Any ideas will be helpful. I have to drive it to work tomorrow at night, so I hope it does not burn out any electrical systems. I have smelled no electric burning and all the wires seem cool to touch. The regulator gets warm by a 20 minute drive, and thats all I got.

THANKS!

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

Check your grounds.

The electric fuel pump needs a feed from the voltage regulator to continue to run after the truck starts, this is why it died after it ran for a few seconds with the gen light on.

_________________
Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

A few things since driving it a few days:

Driving with the lights on, the temp gauge will get to halfway. The entire time I have had the truck, it has always stayed within the normal "notch" of the temp gauge before this situation.
When I drive the truck without the lights on, the temp stays at the normal notch area of the gauge.
All other electrical systems seem to be running fine, with the GEN light only faintly coming on with all systems on at the same time, IE radio, heater fan, lights, etc.

When tackling a wire issue, where do I begin? I am thinking it will need to be done sooner or later with the truck getting so old.

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

What you have is a voltage drop somewhere when you turn on the headlights. Either a bad, high resistance connection somewhere or replacement lights that draw more power than the originals or somthing.
Your temp and fuel guages have a voltage regulator that I will attempt to explain.
It is a relay like device that --heats up, then breaks the circuit, cools down, then repeats the process again and again. This sends an on and off signal to the guages and keeps them at an average reading depending on the length of time,--on to off. Low voltage makes the ON time longer and thus a higher reading guage. Signals don't work? Same problem, low voltage.

So it has been a few weeks, and I still have the low voltage issue. It finally came to a head last night when the truck's battery finally gave out. It was an old battery overdue to be changed.

I swapped it out today, but I am still getting the GEN light coming on when the truck idles lower. Is this an alternator issue now? I have completely redone the fuse block and replaced the voltage regulator, as well as the battery replacement today.

Any help here I would appreciate it, it is my daily work truck and need to keep the money coming in!

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

Do the Fuse box fix.

Gen light on at idle can mean a couple things. Idle speed too slow will cause this--should be 900 rpm. Or poor quality low output alternator.
You need to check with a voltmeter. At 2000 rpm at the battery it should read 13.6--14.4 volts. Less than that means bad alternator, bad voltage regulator, or maybe too loose alternator drive belt. A good digital voltmeter is your best friend here.

80chevyluv: Already been done.

egg: I am leaning toward alternator as well. It is driving fine besides the GEN light, and I have two days off after tomorrow, see what I find. Thank you again for all the help here!

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

+1

_________________
Tom
'81 Luv diesel 4X4 - daily driver

On the way to work this morning, GEN light on when engine had lower RPM's, like it had been doing, but later this morning the GEN light stayed on even as I was cruising down the road.
Close to work the engine started to struggle to stay running and no electronics worked at all. At the next intersection, I was pumping the gas pedal to keep the RPM's high and when I put it into 1st gear a big backfire, which has never happened, went off and after that I had little to no acceration. I hobbled to the nearest parking lot, the truck died as I turned into the lot.
I still have power when I turn the key over, however, it will not even fire off when I try to start it. I believe not even a click from the starter.
I am going to replace the alternator tomorrow if I can get one in time. Home Depot said I could keep the truck in their parking lot a few days, so I have a little time to figure it out.
When I am checking the ground connections, is there any tips I can get, I am new to this procedure. How do I know the location for each ground, etc?


Thankyou all for the input and help!

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

[quote="roland007"}
When I am checking the ground connections, is there any tips I can get, I am new to this procedure. How do I know the location for each ground, etc?
Thankyou all for the input and help![/quote]

Here are the Ground connections that I'm know of on my truck: Ground wire on battery that bolts on top of intake manifold, G.W. from fuel pump to cross member. G.W. near license plate light (I don't think this one is stock). I also bought a battery cable ground wire, and hooked a bolt on the corner of the engine block, and the other end to a bolt on top of the frame. I'd take off each ground connection, and use some sand paper to clean off any corrosion.

_________________
1980 Luv 4x4 with a 5 speed tranny.



"When all else fails, follow the directions".

Just buy a new fuse block from Amazon for $9 and buy new fuses.

Check the ground on the regulator too. It has a little noise filter thing or something on it.

I had this problem and tried the fuse box fix and ended up buying a new fuse block. I also had to buy two alternators because they were getting damaged.

You probably have other wiring issues too because of the headlight temp gauge thing, but start with fuse block.

_________________

1979 4wd Mikado. G200, Gemini 250 Turbo, Clive Cam, Offenhouser Intake, JE Pistons, maXspeeding Forged Rods, Blow Thru Weber, Trooper 5spd, Intercooled

Bought the alternator from NAPA yesterday, I have no time today, but will install tomorrow.
I am going to check all the grounds while I am in there.
I have already replaced the fuse block and it was switched to the newer kind of fuse, not the old tube ones. There are no burnt out fuses and everything looks good there from the install a few weeks ago.
Let you all know what goes down tomorrow!


Thanks for all the energy helping me!

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

To be sure that was a problem ....
Did you have Napa check the old alt while you were there ?

_________________
Previously owned 2 Luvs) 75 & 77 Fleet-side
3rd 77 Step fixing up aka The Yellow Submarine to Luv Ms (Sun)Shine=)
98 GMC Gas Guzzler~>The reason 4 my ~>3rdLuvNext2a66MALIBU =)
66 Chevelle The Oldest of all the vehicles I owned

I didn't have NAPA check the old alternator, but I did, and it was dead. Old and dead. I replace it and recharged the battery. Fired up no problem and drove it home.

It is actually running better than ever in the year and half I have owned it.

Thanks again to all who put energy into this.

$33 bucks and I am on the road again.

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

KEWL.. i'm glad to read this....Peace

_________________
Previously owned 2 Luvs) 75 & 77 Fleet-side
3rd 77 Step fixing up aka The Yellow Submarine to Luv Ms (Sun)Shine=)
98 GMC Gas Guzzler~>The reason 4 my ~>3rdLuvNext2a66MALIBU =)
66 Chevelle The Oldest of all the vehicles I owned

Ok...

Things have been fine for nine days:


Driving yesterday, I noticed a sound like a fan belt was loose. I was thinking it might be my new alternator install, maybe I didn't have the belt adjusted quite right.

I drive home from work tonight and it is now a clanking, squealing belt sound. When I am driving on the highway it didn't do it, but when I would idle it would start to squeal and clank. The sound got much worse and barely made it home.

I was getting fluctuating power to my electrical systems. Faulty alternator?

Any ideas?

I am losing a lot of work with this silly truck...

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

Replaced the alternator and the truck is running again.

I learned tonight when I have the heater going the headlights will dimly come on. The driver side a little more than the the other, both faintly on.
Again, the turn signal indicators next to the steering wheel will faintly come on in conjunction. Turn the wiper blades, same thing, faint glow from the turn signal indicators on the dash.

_________________
1978 Chevy LUV
Purchased Aug. 2014
Second owner

2006 Honda Shadow LX
Purchased July 2006
Original owner

"Not all those who wander are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkien

Check and clean grounds. Also, next time you need a alternator get one listed with AC. Same physical size and mounting but more amps.

_________________
Certified pilots, looking down on people since 1903.

_________________
Previously owned 2 Luvs) 75 & 77 Fleet-side
3rd 77 Step fixing up aka The Yellow Submarine to Luv Ms (Sun)Shine=)
98 GMC Gas Guzzler~>The reason 4 my ~>3rdLuvNext2a66MALIBU =)
66 Chevelle The Oldest of all the vehicles I owned