[Andy Burke (Slump)]

Apparently, theres been a short in my '73 Dodge Challenger, which has melted the main charging systems wiring harness and all the wiring between the alternator and harness. Is there anywhere I can buy this harness? What if I just hardwire it where the harness should go?

[Andy Burke (Slump)]

Looks like "year one" has the part.

[Amy Douvlos (Douvlos)]

I have a charging problem with my 1973 Dodge Challenger. I have recently replaced the following: Control Box, coil resistor, coil, alternator, voltage regulator. This is the first year of the electronic ignition system. I have found that the blue and green field wires from the alternator have continuity to the corresponding voltage regulator terminals, however, I can also get continuity by reversing the ends as well! In other words, I can hook up an ohm meter to one blue input end and the other side to the green output and still get continuity...and viseversa. I ran a continuity test from the alternator voltage output to the + battery terminal and got continuity. Then, I ran a jumper from the alternator voltage output directly to the + battery terminal and got about 15 volts. I also checked grounds on the components and then ran a voltage test from the + output terminal of the alternator to the neg. battery terminal and got 0 volts with the car not running as I was told that that terminal should remain "hot". Does anyone have an original 1973 Dodge Service manual who can photocopy or paperport the wiring diagrams/troubleshooting info. to me? I have lost my book. (I have the 1973 318 w/air Challenger.) Please contact me at aedouvlos@uspis.gov or 301-983-7151 if you can help in any way. Thanks. Amy

[Dave-R (Roppa440)]

Amy.
Did you read the bit I wrote in the thread called 'Charging System'?

In fact read the thread about batteries and how to check them as well because most charging system failiers are due to a bad battery.

I am not sure that the tests you have done so far have any meaning.

To check if your battery is getting a charge from the system you can do this simple test.

First, with the engine (and everything else) switched off, connect your volt meter between the battery terminals and measure the voltage.

Now start the engine but adjust the throttle so that it is running at about 1000 rpm. Put your volt meter over the battery terminals again. You should see something like a 2 volt rise over the reading you had before. If so your charging system is working fine.

The electronic ignition system should have no effect on the charging circuit.

[Rob (Racer413)]

if you got 15 volts between the alt output terminal and the batt + that is and open circut.If you went to the batt - that is normal.A common bad connection is the engine harness connector by the distributor.The alt output wire goes through this connector and the contacts tend to fry. I have a 72 service manual that I could try scannig the diagram if you need it.

[Dave-R (Roppa440)]

That makes a lot of sense. Nice one Rob.

[Amy Douvlos (Douvlos)]

Thanks to all who have responded to my charging problem. I could use any wiring diagrams I can get for my 73 Dodge Challenger. Remember, it has electronic ignition. Do any of the blue or green field wires go to the ignition coil? If so, I may have accidentally hooked them up backwards when I installed the coil. Also, they may also go to the coil resistor, I am not sure. If, I get to the bottom of this I will be sure to let you know what went wrong. (I too, replaced my 318 with a 340 but it has the X heads and a 6-pak on it.)

Thanks again. And if anyone can give me more advise, I'd appreciate it! Amy D.

[Dave-R (Roppa440)]

Amy.

Did you see the diagram I placed under 'Charging system'?
The blue wire in that diagram comes from the ignition switch. The coil also gets a blue wire feed from the same source via one side of the ballast resistor.

The electrical diagrams already on this message board are sufficiant for you to find this problem. The wiring hardly changed at all between years. The electronic ignition makes no difference but I have diagrams and fault finding tips of that too under 'Electronic ignitions'.

[Dave-R (Roppa440)]

Oh and no the field wires should not be connected to the coil. The coil does not get 12 volts as it is in circuit with the ballast resistor. The field wires should be connected as in the simple diagram I posted under 'Charging System'. The blue wire going to the field has to have a full 12 volts on it.