TR6 How does one test the voltage regulator in th late TR6?

[rdr952]

Hello to all those who are now on the streets.....what symptoms does one see with a faulty or dead voltage regulator?I suspect it in causing a short circuit and causing the fuse to melt,which allows the car to run just fine,sans the little things like overdrive,fuel and temp guages and,oh yes,turn signals......all of these are fed through the same circuit.The vehicle can be running with no apparent problem,the steering goes lock-to-lock without causing the fuse failure.Attempts to drive more than a mile without fuse failure have proved nil.........

 

[LarryK]

Check battery voltage while engine off. Then check battery voltage while running. If 12+ volts off and 13+ running , regulator fine. Something in that specific circuit is overloading fuse or shorting out. Unplug various items and see if fuse still blows. Or get a short tester from HF or auto parts store and start probing systems.

 

[TR3driver]

I suspect it in causing a short circuit and causing the fuse to melt,which allows the car to run just fine,sans the little things like overdrive,fuel and temp guages and,oh yes,turn signals......all of these are fed through the same circuit.The vehicle can be running with no apparent problem,the steering goes lock-to-lock without causing the fuse failure.Attempts to drive more than a mile without fuse failure have proved nil.........

Practically impossible to be caused by the voltage regulator; unless the battery also is toast. Even then, I'd say it is much more likely that you have a short (perhaps intermittent) some place.

BTW, you might want to try something like this

It's a circuit breaker that plugs in place of the fuse, giving you a chance to trouble-shoot without having to replace the fuse every mile.

Another trick that works well sometimes is to temporarily wire an old headlight bulb in place of the fuse. The bulb will pass enough current to power some things (tho probably not wipers and not everything at once), but light brightly (and harmlessly) when the short happens.