[tmataraza]

Hey guys, me again. I have been dealing with a voltage regulator problem on the 66 catalina. I put in a cheap oil pressure, engine temp, battery voltage gauge pack I was given for christmas because all the car has are the idiot lights. I found out that when driving on the freeway, the battery voltage was hitting 18v if not more (my gauge only goes that high). I replaced the alternator last summer, so I immediately went to Autozone and got a voltage regulator. The first one did nothing. Just 12.4 volts on the battery running at all RPMs. I also had the car not start because of dead battery after a test drive. Ive since been through 3 voltage regulators, two from autozone, one from rock auto. None are putting more than 12.5v on the battery at all RPMs. I took the Alternator to Autozone and they tested it and its good. I believe that to be trustworthy because if I put my old regulator back on, im getting 13v at idle and more than 16v at higher RPM.

Really confused on what the issue is. My old regulator does not have a part number on it to match up to anything. Ideas? Thanks for the help!

[gto4ben]

Looking in the '66 Service manual, The regulator is a Delco Remy 1119511 Mechanical or the optional 1116370 Transistorized. If your car has an ammeter, then the 1119511 will work.

My guess is that you may have installed an incorrect regulator. Autozone sells a few regulators. They all say they fit a 66 Catalina but that's not entirely correct.

VR715 Electronic for A bodies, equipped with light
VR716 Mechanical for B Bodies, equipped with ammeter
D663 Mechanical for A Bodies
C635 Mechanical for A Bodies equipped with light

If your 66 Catalina wiring is factory, you cannot use an A Body regulator. There is no relay wiring from the R terminal of the alternator in your car to energize the relay in the regulator. This will result in low field current and insufficient charging. VR716 is the correct version.

[tmataraza]

Thank you so much for the information! Can you explain how I know what the ammeter is if I have one? Everything you said makes sense, and unfortunately RockAuto doesnt have the VR716. Any idea where I can find one? Thanks again!

[gto4ben]

In your owners manual, you can find the ammeter gauge above the radio in the center pod. A quick search for 1119511 regulator on eBay resulted in many aftermarket and NOS regulators for sale. You can identify this version by looking for a missing #2 spade terminal.

[tmataraza]

Thanks for that information. That's been the problem. I do not have the owner's manual. I am going to see if I can find one on ebay or something. On my catalina, the dash has the gasoline gauge, battery, then clock. Are the ammeter and battery the same? Sorry, very new to the technical details of this so I have a lot of learning to do. Not having the "instruction manual" complicates it.

I was able to find an autozone VR716 Regulator once I knew what to search for specifically. It never came up when I was just searching by make and engine. Hoping this one works. I am hoping to drive the car without fear of it dying on me over the holiday next weekend.

[gto4ben]

If the Battery pod is a needle like the gasoline gauge, then it's an ammeter. Another indicator is if you see letters "D" (discharge) and "C" (charge).

[grandam1979]

Try a solid state regulator without a long story it fixed my problems.

[tmataraza]

Great thanks @GTO4ben! It is a needle like the gas gauge. It busted though, which is why the after market temp gauge and battery voltage gauge was installed. So will replacing the regulator with the VR716 fix that gauge also? I was able to find one and it will be here tomorrow (couldnt find one local) and will try the solid state one if this doesnt work. Thanks @grandam1979. Also found a owners shop manual for the car on ebay, so that will be a huge help.

Thanks everyone!

[stevep]

You need a 3 terminal regulator. If you put a 4 terminal on, it will not work.
It is correct for a 1963-1963 big Pontiac only.

[TXSTARFIRE]

1963-1963? Should be 1963-1968?

[stellar]

Originally Posted by stevep

You need a 3 terminal regulator. If you put a 4 terminal on, it will not work.
It is correct for a 1963-1963 big Pontiac only.

Correct. 3 terminal reg is needed. 1119511 or D633 are the numbers to look for. I think the 1119517 will also work

[tmataraza]

The VR716 did not work. It was numbered F-1-2-3 whereas the one on the car is F-2-3-4. When I put the wires on the same numbers as the original, it didn't work either. Despite ordering the devices that the website said was compatible, it hasn't been. I even posted how the website did not match what was sent to me despite the box and receipt saying it was. I am at a loss. None of the devices being sent to me are missing the 2nd prong like it was supposed to.

[tmataraza]

Originally Posted by stellar

Correct. 3 terminal reg is needed. 1119511 or D633 are the numbers to look for. I think the 1119517 will also work

Thanks. I think I tried this part number, but if not I'll try it.

[stellar]

Some of the aftermarket regs will have 4 terminals, but one is going nowhere in the reg. To be sure you have a correct reg, you will need to take off the reg cover. The reg you need will only have one coil. The other regs will have 2 coils.

[tmataraza]

Originally Posted by stellar

Some of the aftermarket regs will have 4 terminals, but one is going nowhere in the reg. To be sure you have a correct reg, you will need to take off the reg cover. The reg you need will only have one coil. The other regs will have 2 coils.

Unfortunately the regulators have been rivoted closed and I can't open them to see what the inside looks like. My old reg has the resistors on the backside, whereas all of the new ones have nothing on the backside.

[tmataraza]

Originally Posted by stellar

Correct. 3 terminal reg is needed. 1119511 or D633 are the numbers to look for. I think the 1119517 will also work

I found a D633 on rock auto. Should be here Wednesday. I really hope this one works! I've wasted a lot of time and money with wrong parts!

[stellar]

Make sure the reg has a good ground. You may want to run a ground wire from the alt neg post to the reg base. Does the D633 have one or two coils inside? Don't count on rockauto sending the correct part. Search ebay for the 1119511 reg. You can also use an early chrysler reg. early 60's application. The chrysler has 2 terminals, Ign and field. The base needs to be grounded..

[tmataraza]

Hey sorry. I have another post in the more appropriate electrical forum for 66 pontiacs. The new voltage regulator is different in that the internal prongs are connected on the old one and not the new one. It does have two coils inside. But im getting more than 14v at idle when I connect the two wires to the "correct" vr prongs. Just not sure what is "good enough" because my voltage gauge has anything over 14 in the red, and 14.7 at idle seems high.

[WiscoWilln66]

The Voltage Regulators is where the Headache is for for 66'. At this time Period there were 2 style Pin Regulators. 3 and 4 pin. The 66' with idiot lights no Gauge like Yours and mine uses the 3 pin. IF YOU STICK WITH STOCK. When I upgraded to a higher amp, I installed the 4th Wire. and used the Tuff Stuff 7635. https://www.tuffstuffperformance.com...10dn-7635.html. The new digital board in these work better. I recommend 2. Jegs Summit etc carry these. If you upgrade your alt. You have a 3 Wire Connection. Strip All that junk. Run new upsized wires separately. Fuse your Main Panel to another separate fuse 50-80amp hardwired to the battery. You have a dual brown wire for the Ammeter. Disconnect that. There is another alternative for the gauge placement. A Bonneville Dash Blank will fit right in the place of the old ammeter. I went though all this last summer. I have a post about all this.

Originally Posted by tmataraza

Hey guys, me again. I have been dealing with a voltage regulator problem on the 66 catalina. I put in a cheap oil pressure, engine temp, battery voltage gauge pack I was given for christmas because all the car has are the idiot lights. I found out that when driving on the freeway, the battery voltage was hitting 18v if not more (my gauge only goes that high). I replaced the alternator last summer, so I immediately went to Autozone and got a voltage regulator. The first one did nothing. Just 12.4 volts on the battery running at all RPMs. I also had the car not start because of dead battery after a test drive. Ive since been through 3 voltage regulators, two from autozone, one from rock auto. None are putting more than 12.5v on the battery at all RPMs. I took the Alternator to Autozone and they tested it and its good. I believe that to be trustworthy because if I put my old regulator back on, im getting 13v at idle and more than 16v at higher RPM.

Really confused on what the issue is. My old regulator does not have a part number on it to match up to anything. Ideas? Thanks for the help!