The 82 Trans Am's alternator wiring is shown in the photo below. It's one wire that mounts to the stud on the back of the alternator, and then a 2-prong plug that installs in the side of the alternator.

I've upgraded to what is advertised as a 140A one-wire alternator. On that alt, we of course still have the stud on the back. Where the 2 prong connector would go has a rubber plug over it. The rubber plug easily pulls out, revealing the 2 metal prongs that would accept the 82 wiring connector.

My question is - since this is advertised as a one-wire alt, should I just leave this connector unplugged, or should I remove the rubber boot from the alt and plug it in. Would there be any adverse results on me plugging it in? I figured that if it wasn't meant to be plugged in, they wouldn't have the metal prongs to accept a connector....thanks!

 

Pretty sure if you want your voltage gauge to work you would want to plug it in. If the pin out on the new alt is the same as the old one.

 

A 1-wire alt is not an "upgrade", no matter what number is stamped on the case.

See a recent thread in the Electronics forum about "drop some knowledge". I covered it pretty thoroughly.