Rod Serling is haunting my car!
'84 4.7 Auto. I was using the sharkie as a daily driver last week and every now and then when I would start the car I would get the big red "!" and notice my voltage was nominal on the gauge. Sometimes it would go back to normal after 2 or 3 minutes or I would only drive a short distance and the next time I'd hop in it would be fine. It finally came on and stayed on as I left work for home the other day. about a 15 mile trip mostly through country roads. I made it home fine but the battery was quite depleted. After fully charging the battery the fault has not returned and the voltage is reading between 12 and 14. I'm a little nervous about taking off in it when the problem could return.
Battery terminals and grounds were clean before the issue started and are clean now. I have fully taken heed to clean clean clean the grounds.
Is this something others have seen?
I read a thread here some time ago about troubleshooting the alternator exciter wire but can't find it tonight.
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

most likely is the brushes in the regulator on the back of the alternator are wearing down so this is the first place to look you can replace the brushes OR buy a new regulator only use Bosch regulators

 

I know that when brushes are going bad sometimes a jolt or bump in the road temporarily stops the short for a while. With these cars I tend to immediately think it's going to be something complicated and overlook the obvious. Thanks so much for bringing me back to reality. With some components a car is a car is a car. I'll replace the brushes. Once again, thanks.

 

Worn brushes can cause a short?

tino