I'm still having charging issues. I dunno what I did, but not it charges at 20V with ONLY the big red battery cable connected(no other wires!?!). It doesnt help if I shut the car off or pull the battery cable, it still charges at 20V when i start it up again. What the heck is going on? Thanks.

 

It sounds to me like you have a bad or faulty alt. Take it to Pep Boys or Auto Zone and have it checked

 

You might have a fried alternator, it should be like 8-10V with only the big wire connected.

 

Is there a way I can test the individual components if I take it apart? I've done it with the old 1 and 3 wires, but it's been awhile. How do I test each piece, and what are the specs? Thanks.

 

First of all, how old is the ALT and why would you want to take it apart to test it? If it is fried, it is fried. I suggest going to the JY, pulling the newest one or just buying a remanufactured one and see if that is the problem.

 

I had it tested once already tonight, about 3 hours ago. It was good then. I'd like to pull it apart and test it because i've got nothing else to do tonight, the parts places are closed already, and it's easy to get apart. I'd like to get my car done asap so I can have it together for tomarrow or know exactly what my problem is so I can get it fixed first thing in the morning

 

Ok, I had it tested again, and it tested out a bit weak, but otherwise ok, so i put it back on the car, and it still doesnt charge. Where do the wires need to go? I found my 3rd gen plug in my mess of wires, it has a big red one that goes to the battery, then a brown wire in F and a black wire in L. I saw this diagram: alternator post, but it says L is not used and I should have a wire in S. What's the deal?

 

read my 3rd post on this thread: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=339029

 

I don't understand why everyone is cutting of or re-pinning their alternator connectors. I plugged mine using the original LT1 connector, took the red wire from the LT1 C220, put a 470ohm resistor inline and ran the wire inside the car, plugged it into a switched 12v source that wasn't being used and it charges at 14.1-14.3 volts.

 

just curious, why 470 ohms? Is that what 4th gens use?

 

Yes, they have one built into the gauge cluster, there is a couple of posts about it as well in either this one

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=55526

or this one

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...threadid=55763

Plus according to the '95 wiring diagrams in my Mitchells, it shows one inline with the red wire coming from the C220, figured it was there for a reason so I put it in.

This one here also clarifies some things

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...LT1+Alternator