Hi there,
Last year I bought a project car, a 1991 Pontiac Formula, and I am trying to fix some wiring issues. First, the wiring to the alternator may be incorrect. The main lug does go to the battery as it is supposed to, but the smaller red wire in the 2-wire socket (first pic) is going to the fuse box (2nd pic). If I read previous posts, shouldn't this wire go to either the junction block (this car doesn't have one) or to the solenoid on the starter? Any recommendations about where to connect it? Any problems with where the red wire is plugged in at the fuse box? Is this the alternator exciter wire?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

The 12 AWG Red Wire that connects to your Alternator via the 2-Way Connector in your Image...
Should be connected to the Starter-Motor Stud via a size-16 Fusible-Link.

Remove the connection that you currently have in the Bussed Electrical Center.

 

check this write up out, about halfway down there’s a basic drawing showing the wiring for a 3-wire alternator. In our cars the brown wire is what they show as the white wire but yeah. Hope this helps.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ernator.30629/

 

Thanks for the input. I tried rerouting the red wire to the starter lug, the one with the other red wires on it, and now nothing works. No power anywhere.

I am going to try hooking it back up to the fuse block tomorrow.

 

My mistake. It was the battery that went bad. Swapped in a different battery and everything works. Seems like the alternator is working ok too. Charging now.

Pro tip: don't buy a battery from Menards, they are junk. I have been through 3 in the past 6 months now. Fortunately they are under warranty. Maybe I will eventually get lucky and stumble on a good one.

 

Most Automotive Batteries are Junk today.
Many Brands that were great, are simply not anymore.

I find that ACDelco Gold Batteries are usually great (but there are exceptions).
Otherwise, I have moved on to using Antigravity Batteries (Lithium-Ion), or Odyssey Batteries when a Lithium-Ion Battery is not wanted.

 

Yeah, it is kind of amazing how lousy batteries have gotten.

I only buy Duracell now, love em. Plus they come with a 5 yr warranty which is nice.