Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Help with alternator install

Old Jun 30, 2018 | 12:29 PM
  #1  
curtisad's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Jefferson Ga
Default Help with alternator install

I installed the new alternator and when I started the engine the check gauges light never went off. The connector I connected to the alternator is only a 1 wire connector. (actually it is a 4 wire connector, but only 1 wire goes to it) Is that correct or did I accidently rip out a wire from the connector?
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2018 | 02:09 PM
  #2  
Majestic9C1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,667
Likes: 22
From: Cincinnati, OH
Default

no its only one wire... did you make sure you snapped the connector down all the way?
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2018 | 04:15 PM
  #3  
curtisad's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Jefferson Ga
Default

Yes I snapped it down all the way. I wonder if I'm now putting out too much voltage and the car is sensing an over voltage which triggers the check gauges light? Maybe something I can tune out? With the car running the battery is reading 14.7 volts.
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2018 | 01:35 AM
  #4  
Flame-Thrower's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Default

i had a brand new Honda Accord alternator give a CEL and after testing it at autozone, it was faulty and i have to replace it.
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2018 | 04:24 PM
  #5  
HappySalesman's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 47
From: Noblesville, IN
Default

14.7 volts is a touch high, but not outside the realm of normal for a brand new alt (mine usually reads about 15v at first fire up and after a couple minutes settles in at about 14.5)

I'll assume no other gauges are out of whack? (temp, oil pres, etc etc)

Dumb question but... you aren't low on fuel are you? That'll cause the check gauges light to come on.
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2018 | 05:13 PM
  #6  
curtisad's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Jefferson Ga
Default

Not low on fuel and all other gauges check out good.
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2018 | 05:19 PM
  #7  
Full-Force's Avatar
TECH Junkie
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,070
Likes: 5
From: Upstate of SC
Default

check the pin side of that 1 wire connector with a meter while you wiggle the wire. That wire is fragile as hell
Reply
Old Jul 2, 2018 | 01:28 PM
  #8  
HappySalesman's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 47
From: Noblesville, IN
Default

When I installed my aftermarket alt they supplied a harness that was basically a short extension of the factory harness, but on the 1 pinned wire, it had a length of wire coming off of that and per their instructions, it was supposed to be tapped into a true ignition source. They said that if I didn't hook that up it would pop the battery light (or check gauges light) on. On my car I tested it both with and without this wire hooked up and had no warning lights, but it's worth a shot if you're willing to try. Just find a pink wire coming off of the fuse box and run it to the pinned wire on the alt plug. See if the light goes away.
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 Jul 3, 2018 | 06:18 PM
  #9  
curtisad's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Jefferson Ga
Default

Thats what Mechman told me as well.
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2018 | 09:29 PM
  #10  
JohnR's Avatar
TECH Regular
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 446
Likes: 37
From: Lititz, PA
Default

Originally Posted by curtisad
Thats what Mechman told me as well.
If you are installing a Mechman alternator, then you must use the supplied adaptor to get the "Check Gages" light to go out.

John
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:21 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