So, I have an '84 Camaro with a charging problem. The problem is it doesn't charge. I put in a new battery and alternator, and still no go. I tried running the sense line through the battery, the battery terminal on the alternator, and the sense wire from the car, and nothing works. I tried using diodes as suggested on another thread, and that worked, but for a second. What happens, the diode reduces the voltage like it's supposed to on key on, and it charges for a few seconds when started, but after that, the voltage in the sense line becomes equal or greater than that of the batter terminal wire. With key on, the sense line with diode is at about 11.30 volts. With the engine started, it goes up to about 12.80. How is this possible? Is my car capable of defying the laws of physics? Oh, one other thing. Chilton's says there is a 'charging system relay' in the convenience center. Could that have something to do with it?

Do you have a bulb or a guage? In some charging schemes a bad bulb will affect the alt output. Get more info and post.

Are you referring to the choke light bulb, or any bulb that might be out? The choke light is fine, as are the guages.

TTT for more info on the bulbs.

Just had the same problem with my new engien swap. old alt died n puton a new one and still nothing. try this little trick and see what happens: there should be 3 wires going to the plug on your alternator. a red, tan with white tracer and dark brown or black. taking a paper clip, jump the tan with white tracer to the dark brown or black wire with it running to see if the alternator starts to charge. If it does you have a break in your trickle wire "tan with white tracer" or have a bad terminal inside the plug. This just happened to me on Friday

Thanks for the little trick!

My alternator only has two wires in the pigtail, a red one and a brown one plus the thick charging wire. Both of them have voltage, however.

im having a problem like this with mine how do i go about trying this do i just unplug that plug and run the car with it unplugged and the wires jumped?

best things you can do it take the plug off, jump the 2 wires with a paper clip on the backside and then plug it back in. try it a few times if it doesnt start to charge right away. if your terminals inside the plug are really bad, worst comes to worst the plug will need to be replaced. To get min to charge i just stripped away the coating on the wires, then ran the jumper wire between then and twisted it down then covered it back up with elec. tape and wire conduit.

Appernently, the alertantor charging wire is run through your fan switch/relay. I didnt find this out till after i swapped in my new motor and ran my fan to a direct 12V from the ingniton so it would run all the time. Puts a major pull on the alternator, but keeps my engine at a nice 180* even in heavy bumper to bumper traffic.

where do i find this fan switch relay? is it a fuse? because my fan diddnt work when i got the car along with the temp guage still dosent work but the fans wired to the batt with a switch ive tryed a few diff alternators but im not sure if any of them were good they all came from the scrapyard so...