'86 Ski Alternator

[Ride_Klein]

I'm looking for some direction/correction/advice.

I just purchased an '86 Ski 2001, and I'm having charging issues. The charging system won't put out more than about 11.8 volts. I had the alternator rebuilt by the shop recommended to me by the Nautique Dealer Buxton Marine in Dallas, TX. (Great dealer and very very helpful) The shop rebuilt the alternator, and tested it showing the alternator produces 14.1 volts. When you put the freshly built alternator back into the boats charging system it will not produce any more than 11.8 volts, verified by myself and the alternator shop using a multimeter.

Curious as to what the problem is I started checking. The boat has the PCM 351, and it appears that the boat came with an externally regulated alternator. A previous owner replaced the externally regulated alternator with an internally regulated one, the alternator that I pulled off the boat and sent into the shop was internally regulated, the shop rebuilt it as they were asked and supplied me with another internally regulated alternator. Since I've allready paid to rebuild the alternator I'd like to be able to use it. I've talked with the guys at Buxton and they hadn't seen a problem like this before. They are always extremely helpfull and I'd like to avoid taking up all their time for a repair I'm trying to do myself.

Does anybody know how to isolate the external regulator and take it out of the system so the two regulators don't interfere with each other?

Any other words of wisdom?

[GOGO]

Check your alternator connections. I had mine serviced(turned out to be the battery like I thought) but the conections were very coroaded. Cleaned them up with abasive etc and it charged much better. (87 Supra,351pcm) I was told these alternators should last for thousands of hours. Good luck

[nms1991]

Ride_Klein does the altenator put out 14 volts at the big post on the altenator? That year of boat should have had the regulator on the back of the altenator. The path of electricity should flow from the altenator to the circuit breaker to the positve battery cable on the starter relay to the battery. So if you follow the path you should find your problem.

[Ride_Klein]

nms1991-

The alternator that is on the boat now is internally regulated. This alternator was rebuilt by the shop recommended to me by the nautique dealer. The boat has an external regulator. It is a rectangular ceramic piece located next to the main breaker on the back of the engine.

I've followed the lines, do you know if I can take the external regulator our of the system by simply removing it?

Thanks

[crotchrocket]

I had a local guy build me a GM one wire to replace the Motorola. Best thing I ever did. It has not had a problem in 4yrs and running. And I can replace with one at Autozone if it ever messes up " long as I unbolt the spark arrester and reinstall it on the new one".

[mrese]

The boat has an external regulator. It is a rectangular ceramic piece located next to the main breaker on the back of the engine.

That is actually the Ignition resistor used with standard points and it helps with premature failure of the points and condensor. If you have replaced the points with electronic igniton, you need to bypass it. You can do so by simply connecting all the wires to one end of the resistor.

[Ride_Klein]

mrese-

thanks for the correction, and thanks to everybody else for the advice. Just and update.... we took the alternator back to the shop and had it tested again. It was producing 14 volts on their system, and we're in the process of going through the electrical system to find either a short or a ground problem. Hope to have it fixed soon.

Thanks

[83sn2001]

I have a friend with an 88 that has the same problem. Always has shown 11.5 volts. He has never had a charging problem though so he leaves it alone. The electrical shop checked his and it checked at 14 volts. I would not lose too much sleep over it.

[Ride_Klein]

I have a friend with an 88 that has the same problem. Always has shown 11.5 volts. He has never had a charging problem though so he leaves it alone. The electrical shop checked his and it checked at 14 volts. I would not lose too much sleep over it.

I wish mine was as simple. Can't get the boat to charge the batteries while we are out. If you put it on a charger after your done for the day you're ok, but if you need to go a day or two without the charger, you've got a dead battery on your hands. We're trying to add a stereo to the boat and don't want to be left out on the water without power.

Still no luck, and for anybody that hasn't done it yet, tracing down electrical problems is a big pain. On the up side I've never been so familiar with a boat before.

Love the boat, and this is the only problem we've had with it. Hopefully we'll get it sorted out soon, and if we don't I can always take it into the dealer.

[83sn2001]

do you turn the ignition breaker off? My friend had a similar discharge problem and started turning the ign. breaker off when he was done for the day. The clock runs when the ign. breaker is on. Since he has had no problems. Just a thought

[83sn2001]

Talked with a friend that works at automotive electrical shop. He said to check the battery posts with a voltmeter while engine is running and you should read between 13.5 and 14.5. If lower than that and the alternater bench tested ok you could have a bad wire from the alt. to the bat. If it tests ok at the battery, do the same check at the gauge. The same solution applies there.

[SayWhat]

I also had the same problem. My cables by looking at them appeared to be in good condition and I had replaced the ends. I still was having charging issues so I replaced the cables. Mine is an 82 and my battery is located in what was once supposed to be a cooler. The cable run through the drain hole and because of this are in water the majority of the time we are in the lake. After removing the cables I cut them open to check them out and they were completely corroded. I was shocked at how bad the corrosion was. I have had no probs since.

[Ride_Klein]

Thanks for the help. The alternator bench tested well, The voltage between the battery terminals never gets above about 11.9 - 12.2 volts.

We're checking grounds now to make sure that isn't a problem. We've replaced the two main wires from the block to the battery, and still have the problem. One of these days we'll get it figured out. The good thing about it is so long as we charge it up each night we can still hit the lake. We just need to get it fixed before we put the stereo in.

Thanks again for all the help from everybody.