Charging problem- GMN's turn

[3 blue Merks]

So far I haven't been able to solve this problem. I posted on CVN and wasn't able to get any further. A few months ago I had an "amp" light come on and stay on ever since when the engine is running. I since replaced the voltage regulator which didn't solve the problem. I checked the alternator by first connecting the voltmeter to the battery and running the car with all the accessories on high idle and that checked out fine. I then unplugged the 2-wire connector from the alternator to see if it was related and ran the engine and the light was still on. Car has a heated windshield and conversion to regular windshield was performed.

At this point I am clueless as to what the problem could be. I removed the battery and the windshield washer reservoir and checked all the wires to make sure all grounds are connected and surely they are.

So any ideas or suggestions as to what I should check next?

[Grand Marquis GT]

Do you have an autozone or something nearby???

If so, have them test your alternator. This would be a lot easier if you have a volmeter in your car. Gauges are good.

And yeah, those fucks over there know how to ruin a good technical thread, esp petely, that fool thinks he owns the fuckin place

Anyone else got an educated guess? LAst time this happened to me, my alternator went tits up. It happens.

[Lincolnmania]

when you hook the voltmeter to the battery with the engine running, how many volts do you have? shouls be 14 volts or more at idle turn the lights, heater fan, wipers etc on and check the voltage, if it's less than 13v you may have an altenator on it's way out.........as tom said take it off and have it tested
scott

[NATEHAWK]

I had a similar problem but my amp light came on teh blinked off as i was driving then can back on i had a wire that was ground it self... It was inline with the other wires that run to teh alternator.. Once i found the wire and resplied it taped it up real good the amp light never came back on.. Just my 2 cents but its a start just check all wires that run to teh alterator and make shur none are grounding or shorting...

[3 blue Merks]

All the wires are fine, I checked them over numerous times. I redid all the wiring harnesses last year with new electrical tape so there is nothing that could be shorting. It's all clean and neat. I am getting 12 volts with engine off and 14 with engine on and all accessories on. If it was the alternator then when I disconnect the 2 wire connector wouldn't the light go off?

[3 blue Merks]

I may have found the problem. The connector that can be seen in this picture has one wire running to the voltage regulator and the other wire just hanging there. Anyone know if this is how it should be or is it suppost to go somewhere?

[3 blue Merks]

Anyone???

BTW are there any fuse links behind the dash or are they all in the engine bay?

[Lincolnmania]

i believe that all the fusible links are under the hood........i am looking at my towncar evtm.........there are alot of fusible links......give me the wire colors and stripes on that mystery plug, and i will to decipher this for u
scott

[3 blue Merks]

The mystery plug has black with orange stripe wire running from the voltage regulator and a black wire that's just hanging there. On the other side of the plug I believe there is a green with red stripe and I think a black(not 100% on this last one).