Charging problem almost solved
 

Just pulled the engine yesterday, While looking for wires to disconnect, I noticed the PO has the wiring to the starter wrong. He had the battery cable on one terminal and the alt wire on the other, also the white wire on the small spade connector. The car had no problem starting with this setup. I know the pos battery and alt should be on the same terminal, but I dont see any other wires that can connect to the other terminal. Is it just a ground? Also what damage to the alt can come from the old setup:confused: :confused:

The white wire should likely be a yellow one from the ignition switch.

The one terminal is where the battery wire and alternator wire go. The other terminal is how the "juice" gets from the solenoid to the starter motor itself, I believe.

--DD

[EDIT]
Heh, I didn't really answer your question, did I?

I think (haven't thought through it all the way) that one way you hook this up would still cause the thing to start.

I was thinking that the alternator wouldn't be hooked up to anything, but on further reflection it could have burned out by going directly through the starter motor to ground. Hmmm.... I think it depends on how the thing was hooked up. So I guess I'm not sure on your answers. :(

Dave,
So your saying that one terminal has battery and alt wire conected and the second terminal has no wire conected at all?

Yes, Dave's correct. As you are looking at the starter from the rear of the car, the terminal on the left gets BOTH wires connected to it. The (usually yellow) wire from the ignition switch connects to the spade connecter. I believe this completes the charging system circuit so the system actually charges. With one wire connected to each terminal, the car will start - but only on what juice is left in the battery until the battery is drained. In other words you won't be charging your battery.
The guy I bought my current car from a few years ago couldn't figure out why his battery kept going dead. I found the mis-connected starter after I got it home and began going through things.
I don't think you can damage your alt. by hooking a wire to each terminal. It just wont charge. If anything you may ruin a voltage regulator, but I'm not really sure on that.
Don

Yep, it'll ruin a voltage regulator as I as well got a car from a PO with this setup and it did indeed fry the VR. That is how i found the problem...pch