some kind of short?

BaileySims · Post by **BaileySims** » Sat Oct 24, 2015 2:28 pm

Was driving my car today and came to this shop to get my stickers. Let the car idle for about 10 minutes and then everything just shut down as if I turned off the ignition. Unplug the alternator and it starts. Replace with new alternator and it doesn't start. I keep blowing the am 60 amp fuse. Is there a short somewhere or did I buy another bad alternator?

teranfirbt · Post by **teranfirbt** » Sat Oct 24, 2015 4:47 pm

By unplug the alternator are you talking about the battery charge connection or the 3 pin plug?
Definitely sounds like a short, my old Celica did something similar when the ring terminal broke on the alternator and it jammed the charge wire into the case....
I would take a multi meter and see if your charge wire has continuity to ground as the first step. You might have to move the wire around a bit if it has a weird cut in the insulation,

BaileySims · Post by **BaileySims** » Sat Oct 24, 2015 5:35 pm

Yeah, it is now the 3 pin connector. I took out the 12v lead and switched it to a other port in that 3 pin connector and its charging now but at 17 to 18volts. I know that's obviously bad. I have given up for today. I started going through all the wires from the fuse box to inside of the car and I wasn't able to find anything. All the extra stuff I have on the car, I disconnected, and it still shorted out. I'll check for cont to the charging wire on Monday and see where it goes from there.

BaileySims · Post by **BaileySims** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:34 am

Anyone know how the wires going into the alternator go? I took out the plug from the harness on Saturday and I forgot where they went back in. I don't want to put them in the wrong way in fear of burning out my new alternator. The three wires are white, yellow/black and black/red. The alt I believe now has an external voltage regulator, I don't know if there is a difference for wiring.

BaileySims · Post by **BaileySims** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:42 am

This is the plug.

Post by **irowiki** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:53 am

If your old alt was internally regulated, an externally regulated alt will not work without the regulator and a lot of wiring changes.

BaileySims · Post by **BaileySims** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:57 am

Well dang. Just to be sure, this is the external VR, right?

4wdEconoBox · Post by **4wdEconoBox** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:19 am

Yeah that looks like the external vr alternator, your plug looks like it was supposed to have the internal vr :/. Could've been why you had 17-18 volts and why you kept blowing fuses!

BaileySims · Post by **BaileySims** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:53 am

Hahaha! You may be right! Is yours an internal vr? If so, can you snap a pic of the wiring harness for me? I got irritated and cut mine off Saturday and I forgot where they went. I went ahead and ordered the other alternator today but it won't be here until tomorrow morning. I think I got the short fixed as well. Just have to fix and wrap all the wires now.

4wdEconoBox · Post by **4wdEconoBox** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 2:54 pm

Here ya go sir!

Edit: Where did the short end up being at? Glad you found it!!

BaileySims · Post by **BaileySims** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:43 pm

Thanks brotha! I honestly don't believe there was a short in the wiring. I think it was the alternators. I opened the first one and it looked fried. I'm guessing the second one kept shorting because it was the external vr type. I did cut all the tape and inspected all the wiring, there was only one wire that had frayed a bit but I'm not sure it was that either. Everything was cleaned and re-taped today so I'm hoping this alternator I'm getting tomorrow will work. Just have to put the dash back together tomorrow and pick up the alternator and throw it in and cross my fingers. Haha!

4wdEconoBox · Post by **4wdEconoBox** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 4:17 pm

Hopefully that'll fix it! Did you have to turn in your old fried up alt as a core charge?

BaileySims · Post by **BaileySims** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 4:26 pm

I hope so too! I kept it just in case. I saw the picture of the one I ordered online and it said something about having a v-belt pulley. If that's the case, then I can just swap pulleys and give it to them.

Post by **Petros** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 4:27 pm

the supplier where you got your new alternator is suppose to ask if it is internal or external VR. After about '85 they are all internal, but use a different type of alternator that uses a different mount.

you can do damage to the wiring and gauges if you run it very long with out a VR, should charge at about 14-15 v, higher means something is wrong and you risk damage to electrical components.

4wdEconoBox · Post by **4wdEconoBox** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 4:43 pm

Alright, I was just wondering, I usually cannibalize old alts and get the bearings and brushes and any other parts I can scavenge off of them hahaha.

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