I swapped for serpentine accessories, using a 12si-to-cs130 wiring adapter. Things worked okay for 8 months, then the junkyard alt. smoked the bearings about a month ago. I put a parts store alt. in and was fine. But in the last week, the charging is erratic or poor and the engine could not be cranked when I got home thursday.

Could a wiring adapter for a non-gauges car cause this? It has a resistor in one wire. But the car worked with an 87 F alternator and then the jy 88-92 one too, all with the wrong adapter.

The alt tests at 14v for the parts store. In car, a couple nights ago, it was 13.xx volts or 3.xx and in-between.

Any tests to try if a non-resistor adapter doesn't do it?

Thanks.