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Bad regulator... Been fine on short trips but first 150+ mi has the battery venting

846 Views 13 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  PeteD
First long trip in a while (usually the S10 is a to-and-from work commuter), popped the hood when i got back home, battery was spitting some acid out and giving off that ripe smell. Surface temp on the front of the battery was 200f. Pretty sure my alt regulator has gone bad. I've got a new one on the way, but im gonna try to pull apart my current one and clean the contacts and see if that does the trick before it gets here. This is my only vehicle sadly.

On a side note, what's the advantage of running an AGM battery vs a lead acid in these older rigs... im the 2nd or 3rd owner, not really too sure but its had an AGM battery since i've owned it.

pulling the alt tomorrow and cleaning the contacts/bench testing the regulator to see if its bad.

1986, 2.8L engine (LL2), 5 speed trans (ML3), with a TBI unit. i'll post back after i "rebuild" the alternator/if it works.
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If that's your only vehicle, do you use it to tow that portable house behind it?
thankfully i dont have to, it's not mine. I think its ugly.

Battery is about 8 years old, measured the voltage with the engine off and got 13.16V... engine running i get over 15V which makes me think its the regulator
never seen a battery last that long. Shoot out here 2 or 3 years tops
even an AGM? Mine is an Exide Edge... I know lead acid batteries dont last as long, but i've heard AGMs can last up to 10 years
Sum sort of volt meter mite be a good investment for diagnosis here.
:rolleyes:
Well...that's pretty helpful.
if he read the thread he would know that i've already measured, and that i'm not looking for a diagnosis
I'm partially blind and didn't see batt/alt voltage readings @ idle/cruise rpms that you'd posted. Apologies for not noticing .
and my apologies for being harsh, i was stressed after that long trip... bear ran in front of me on the way back and the alt/battery thing.
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