ok so ive replaced alt volt reg and bat but when i unplug the volt reg it runs fine but when i plug it in it runs stupid and drives stupid spit sputters rpm gauge is everywhere when it should be on to its hittin six what is going on??

 

sounds like you have a short somewhere.


check the wires at the back of the alt, they like to die early.


id also take a volt reading off the batt while its running "stupid" should be near 14v with nothing on.

 

ok ill see what i can do
thanks

 

bad diode in the alternator. it's letting ac into the electrical circuit.
Stick another working alternator on there though before you go out and buy one.

I had this happen on a Volvo 242 one year...OK, maybe it was 3 years.

 

Good call daw, are you a mechanic?

 

I bought a 1980 Volvo that wasn't running very well to fix up for one of my kids. It would start and run for about 10 seconds, then die. Turn the key off, restart and repeat. I got the car up to 60 mph by putting it into neutral when it stalled and restarting it while rolling, then accelerating for the 10 seconds it ran then repeating and eventually gaining speed. Apparently once the bad diode heated up it leaked alternating current (alternator) into the 12 volt direct current circuit of the entire car and crashed the ignition circuit.

The problem described above sounds like it could be the same because unplugging the voltage regulator takes the alternator out of the circuit.