Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

how many alternator wires?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 11:23 AM
  #1  
68birdls1's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,667
Likes: 0
From: jacksonville, fl
Default how many alternator wires?

i have a speartech wire harness and i was just wondering how many wires are supposed to be going to the alternator. i have one red wire....

the reason i am asking is because the last couple of times i have driven the car, once the car reaches around 200 degrees, its like the battery just lets the car die?!? i just had the alternator checked today and it is great! so if you have any ideas what it could be other than a drain, then please let me have your input. thanks alot

daniel
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 05:17 PM
  #2  
boondiggys's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (165)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
From: NNJ
Default

on a stock alt there should be 2 wires coming from the alt. 1 fat red wire that bolts on the rear bottom of the alt. going towards the battery and another skinny one that plugs in the top of alt....what kind of alt are you using?
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 06:07 PM
  #3  
DaleMX's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, Georgia!
Default

Sounds like something is happening when you go into closed loop. I have not tried the following, but read about it. Maybe do a little reasearch in the tunning section to verify the procedure.

Try unplugging the MAF (force constant open loop operation), start the car and let it get up to 200 and see if the problem goes away. If it keeps running then you may have a bad MAF or o2 sensor.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 06:25 PM
  #4  
68birdls1's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,667
Likes: 0
From: jacksonville, fl
Default

well i dont have a big wire connected to the bottom of my alternator! that might be why i am not charging lol! does that wire go straight to the battery? and i will try your idea tomorrow. thanks alot and please keep the info coming!

daniel
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 06:35 PM
  #5  
DaleMX's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, Georgia!
Default

Duh!

Yea, to the battery batman! OR the starter.

Glad you found it!

Last edited by DaleMX; Jan 16, 2005 at 06:43 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 07:15 PM
  #6  
68birdls1's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,667
Likes: 0
From: jacksonville, fl
Default

awesome, well i will get back to yall tomorrow after i deal with this problem. thanks alot for all the help! i really appreciate yalls quick responses! thanks again
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 08:02 PM
  #7  
badjuju342's Avatar
Deranged Rat Fink
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,495
Likes: 1
From: Right here at my laptop, DUH!
Default

The wire that plugs in the alt is an "exciter" wire , it comes from the bulb or guage in the dash that is an ignition switched source. It activates the regulator in the alternator and "tells" the alternator when to charge. the color is brown , I believe. If you don't have a battery source larger guage wire on the insulated bolt on terminal in the the back of the alt , it won't charge. Kinda spinning your alternator , so to speak.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 09:02 PM
  #8  
68birdls1's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,667
Likes: 0
From: jacksonville, fl
Default

yea i was startin to freak before yall told me what it was, cause i had the alternator tested and it was great, the battery is brand new duralast gold, and i was just like AHHHH lol!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 17, 2005 | 07:39 PM
  #9  
68birdls1's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (46)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,667
Likes: 0
From: jacksonville, fl
Default

its amazing what happend when you give your alternator a 12 volt source lol... it works. thanks to all who helped, i really appreciate it.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:51 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE