First post. I live in Milton, WI, USA and have some kindof car disease. A small fleet of Volvo's (1800, 2x245, 2x764, and sister's 745); Saab 95 (not 9-5); couple of old (60's) Mercedes and a Citroen. The Jaguar is for sale. There are others; just not as noteworthy. Used the Brickboard over the years as a resource, but only anonymously.

I'm trying to locate the voltage regulator on my 1800. It is a 1972 "W" chassis, no. 3006. I don't have reading material that covers my year of car yet, but I do have books for early 1800's and 120's, as well as 164's. The alternator "looks" the same as in pictures; I think it's an original equipment type.

In a nutshell, output from the alternator is either non-existent or about 18 volts. The amp light only lights when the output is nil; when it is high, everything seems normal. (until you connect a voltmeter) I can't say how long it may have been running hot before the light came on the first time; my first clue was a cooked battery, the light only came after I replaced the battery with a spare I had around.

All the OHV cars I've seen in the junkyard (245, 164's) have a direct wire from the alternator to a little box (like a large relay) on the inner fender; very obvious. On my car, however, the alternator wiring gets incorporated to the main harness and becomes untraceable.

There is small, thin (1/2 inch) electrical component on the driver's side inner fender (second from the firewall) labeled "MOTOROLA". It is more modern looking--and much smaller--than the surrounding components; this might be it? It may be an updated unit (not original to the car)? It has a 4 wire connector that resembles the typical trailer wiring harness (all wires in the same plane-like an inline four engine).

Suggestions regarding replacement sources are welcome. I'm not inclined to do an alternator (GM or otherwise) upgrade; but it is feasible. Would one of the regulators I saw on those other OHV cars work? What do other 1800 owners do when this happens?


Jason