i just got a car running after sitting for 2 years or so ... runs good so far but i have not ran it much, as it will not charge ... the alt is a factory 3 wire type (87 gta 5.7 tpi) i know 2 wires should be hot all the time (from what i read) and one is switched, what i need to know before i go drop $90 on a new one (i hate to throw parts at it for no reason), is where does power to the switched wire come from, is there a fuse to it, does it come straight from the ignition switch or what?

 

IIRC, it should be tied into either the idiot light, or one of the switched powers to one of the relays.

 

http://austinthirdgen.org/mkportal/m..._continued.gif

 

cool, just what i needed to see ... someone took that c/h fan fuse out (i am guessing when they rewired the fan) and it looks to me like that is where it runs to ... if i can get out there after i take my son to school and go by autozone to get the heater valve i broke so it wont be pouring out coolant, i am going to give it a try ... if it works, it should be ready for a drive ... i have gotten everything else working, i think

 

As long as that wire wasnt disturbed you should be good to go just putting a fuse in. Though you could do a continuity test, or test for voltage at the alt on that wire with the key on once the fuse is installed.

 

coudnt get to the wire, but put the fuse in, bam over 13 volts running ... but its fix one thing, find another ... bolt broken off in the intake, one for the thermostat housing ... that wont be fun at all ... get that fixed and i can start putting the plastic back up inside and her her ready for a good test drive ... i hate when things go like that, but ill take it slow and do it right ... i still have the iroc to drive for now

 

That's a pretty common one to snap. $40 at the machine shop fixed it.