Description

Chrysler Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial, Chrysler, DODGE TRUCK Diagnostics Manual

I’ve been turning wrenches since before electronic regulators were common, and I can tell you the difference between a comeback and a done-right job is what manual you crack open. This Chrysler Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial, Chrysler, DODGE TRUCK Diagnostics Manual is a 16-page factory reference book from the Master Technicians Service Conference. It covers charging system diagnosis the way Chrysler engineers intended — not some aftermarket rewrite that leaves out fusible wire ratings.

Charging System Operation Checking: Start on Page 1

Page 1 opens with a basic operation check and a “no-charge quick check” procedure. If you’re seeing dim headlights or a battery that won’t hold, that’s where you begin. The manual doesn’t let you skip — it tells you to watch for symptoms first. Over-charging? Under-charging? You run the sequence on page 1 before you start swapping parts. That saves you hours chasing a bad voltage regulator when it’s really a corroded field circuit.

Conventional Regulator Tests: What You Get on Page 3

Starting on page 3, the manual walks through conventional voltage regulator testing: battery test, field circuit resistance test, charging circuit resistance test, current output test, and regulator operation test. Every resistance spec is factory-verified. You won’t find a generic “check for continuity” — you get actual Ohm values for field coil and charging circuit. I’ve seen guys throw a regulator at a car because they guessed the contacts were stuck. This manual tells you to test the fusible wires first. Page 3 covers that.

Electronic Regulator Diagnostics: Page 11 Procedures

The electronic regulator section (page 11) handles the later systems with solid-state control. Charging circuit resistance test combined with current output test, then a dedicated voltage regulator test, and control circuit troubleshooting. If you’ve ever had a Chrysler product that charges fine cold but drops voltage after 20 minutes, the control circuit troubleshooting on page 11 pinpoints the leakage path. This is not a generic chart — it’s a step-by-step that assumes you have a DVOM and a carbon pile load tester.

16 Pages of Factory Procedure — No Reprints, No Guesswork

Sixteen pages may sound thin, but every page is dense with test sequences that Chrysler Motors Corporation validated in their own labs. The back cover even has the original part number. Contrast that with aftermarket manuals that pad page count with fluff like “common sense” advice. Here you get: battery test sequence, field circuit resistance values, charging circuit voltage drop limits, regulator operating voltage specs. If you want to see how On-board Diagnostics (OBD) evolved, this manual shows the state of charging system diagnostics before OBD took over. And if you’re working on a manual-transmission Dodge truck of that era, the same charging system tests apply regardless of transmission type — Manual Transmission vehicles share the same alternator and regulator setup.

Who Needs This Manual

DIY guys restoring a Plymouth Fury, Dodge Coronet, Imperial LeBaron, or a DODGE TRUCK from the late ’60s to early ’70s — this is your charging system bible. Professional mechanics who still see these rigs on the lift will save billable hours by using the exact test procedures instead of swapping parts. The manual is 16 pages, pocket-sized, and fits in a three-ring binder. Print it, laminate it, throw it in your tool box. It’s better than any YouTube video because the writer doesn’t start with “hey guys.”

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Does this manual cover the alternator removal and replacement?

No. This is purely a diagnostics reference. It covers how to test the charging system to find the fault, not how to take the alternator off the engine. You’ll need the factory service manual for removal torque specs.

What specific years does it apply to?

The manual is titled “Reference Book 69-3” which indicates it applies to 1969 and later model year Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial, and Dodge Truck vehicles with conventional or electronic voltage regulators. It covers both systems up to the point where electronic regulators became standard. Always cross-check your vehicle’s regulator type against the test procedures on pages 3 and 11.

Don’t waste time guessing on a charging system that leaves a customer stranded. Get the factory test procedures. Access the Factory Manual and keep it in your shop.