I am very much a newbie here so I apologize. My brother picked up a '69 Road Runner with a 440 V8. The battery is new and seems like the alternator is not charging it. Placing a voltmeter on the battery when the engine is off shows 12.6v. However, when you start the car with the lights on the voltmeter shows only 11.0v. I have found a dangling wire attached to a terminal held on by a screw on the bottom of the backside of the alternator that goes nowhere. The blade type terminal on top of the alternator looks like it goes in to the voltage regulator. Now, placing a voltmeter on the screw terminal (the one with the dangling wire) while the engine is running shows 28 to 30v! While the engine is off it shows 6 to 7v. Is this correct voltage output on a 12v system?
Do you think I need a new alternator and where should I reattach that dangling wire?
Thanks in advance. Sorry to be so green.