constant voltage regulator location

[cmcclean]

This may be a newbie question but, where the heck is the constant voltage regulator location? As well the radio choke suppressor? I'm sure some of you have guessed my fuel and temp gauge are erratic in unison. Not bad but I never know if I am about to run out of gas and overheat.

[RAVEN]

We would gladly help but more info is needed.
What year is car and Generator or Altenator?

[MN63Tbird]

CMCClean. The constant voltage regulator is behind the clock. You can see it from under the dash but the easiest way to access it is behind the clock. The clock can be removed by a couple screws. Below is a photo of the unit and the radio suppressor. The constant voltage regulator is the green item and the radio suppressor is that little white cylinder attached to the bottom of the suppressor. You can find replacements for the regulator at the Tbird vendors or NAPA. I was not able to find a radio suppressor vendor. The regulator reduces the voltage from 12 volt to 5 volt to run the 2 gauges. If you want to test out the gauges to see if they are working you can hook up 3 D Cell batteries in series to give 4.5 volts and that should move the dials. You can tap into the wire from the regulator and connect the other end of the cells to ground or do the same thing at the gauge location. The fuel temp gauge is a little more difficult to remove since it has a multitude of lights in the unit that need to be pulled out. Taking it out is not too tough. Putting them back in since some have short wires is a little more challenging.

Photo from a parts car.



MN63Tbird

[ABQTBird]

Unless you are an absolute purist, you can make a solid state instrument voltage regulator (I find it an oxymoron to call them constant as they are as far from constant as you can get and that is why the choke is there) for a few dollars. I have some instructions here: http://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net/p ... =32&t=9524

[cmcclean]

Sorry about that it's a 62 with a generator. Totally unmoified.
Behind the clock, perfect.
The shop manual does everything but tell you where it is...
Thanks for the help. Hopefully its just a bad ground.

[ABQTBird]

Thanks for the help. Hopefully its just a bad ground.

These devices are notorious for failing due to burned/corroded contacts or a burned out coil. Since the output is a pulse from 0 to 12V you can only see it work with an analog voltmeter. I suggest opening the can up to see what it looks like inside. JMHO. Good luck.

[cmcclean]

Yah, I'll crack it open if the ground is not the obvious fault. If its too ugly inside I will probibly follow those instructions for making it a solid state.

[ABQTBird]

Very good. I hope you find the problem. The replacement conventional IVR's are fairly expensive, which is why I suggested the LM7805.

[cmcclean]

Thank you all for the help.

[cmcclean]

More dependable and inexpensive. I'm all for that!

[cmcclean]

So if anybody is following this. I opened up the regulator and the contact was pretty dirty. Cleaned it up and reassembled. Its better but still not right. I think I will follow the instructions and upgrade with the Radio shack parts. Will I still have to use the radio choke suppressor?

[MN63Tbird]

I wasn't able to find a replacement for the radio suppressor. It looked like a coil of copper wire with insulation around it. When I reinstalled it with the new regulator the old one sort of fried. I hooked up the regulator without it. I have not noticed much difference with the original AM radio but these days there are not many stations that play anything good any more and those that do play music have much less power than the old stations 50 yrs ago. They are difficult to pick up even if they are within 30 miles.

I run with an aftermarket radio almost all the time unless the car is to be judged. That radio sees no difference at all without the radio suppressor. On the rare occasions that the car is being judged it is easy to slip the aftermarket back under the right side of the dash, keep the wires hooked up and install the original radio with just taping into the power and front speakers lines. If done the drill enough that its less than 5 min to do.

MN63

[cmcclean]

Good to know I could run it without it. I wondered if by going solid state it negated the need of the choke suppressor..
I saw a guy who took a small period correct suitcase and mounted a modern radio and speakers into it with a cigarette lighter plug for electricity. For shows the suitcase went in the trunk with the modern stuff facing away. I thought it was pretty trick and may do something like that myself.

[tbird]

The choke is not needed on the electronic constant voltage regulator.

[jrfjr]

...I saw a guy who took a small period correct suitcase and mounted a modern radio and speakers into it with a cigarette lighter plug for electricity. For shows the suitcase went in the trunk with the modern stuff facing away. I thought it was pretty trick and may do something like that myself.

That's a great idea! Wish I would have thought of it.