did charlie brown do my wiring

[ruddyboys]

I just checked my Alt wiring harness. From the Alt, up thru the grommet in the tin, the harness splits. The side that goes to the starter has, two red thick wires ( one with black stripes and on with white stripes) connected at end. Also at this end is a thin grey wire. On the side that goes to the Voltage reg we have more of a mess. 1 brown wire, 1 red wire, 1 black wire, 1 green wire, 1 grey wire and 1 thick red with white stripes. Connected to the voltage reg are green, black, orange and the thick red with white stripes. All the other wires are just cut and left lying next the VR. The harness does seem original, dirty and off white in color. What do I have . ( Where the harness goes into the alt I cant see a connector only a grommet that I didn't want to start pulling at.

[Amark]

There is a very good picture of what the factory harness looks like here:914 harness site

There are only 4 wires:

One heavy red wire from the alternator to the starer. Red,brown,green wires that go from alternator to voltage regulator.

Its very simple, you might beable to build one w/ components from your local Ace Hardware. Or you could just buy one for $35.00 at site listed above.

[ruddyboys]

I'm more concerned with what alt I have. Is thers any identifing serial numbers.

[Amark]

I think the same alternator is used on all type 4 motors. The voltage regulator plug-in on the alterator should look just like the plug-in on the voltage regulator end.

Later model cars have the voltage regulator internal to the alternator. Some of those alternators only have the one heavy red wire that goes from the alternator to the starter.

I don't know if it is possible for someone to have converted your car to a different type of alternator.

[Loan Dog]

You should be able to re-wire your alt. very easily. I just did mine last night and me and electricty don't get along very well. I even think Ben Franklin is a jerk sometimes for playing with that damn kite...
Anyways, there actually are two heavy Red wires that connect from the back of the alt. One runs to the battery, the other completes the circuit to the starter. Then I bought some 14 gage insulated wire and replaced the three wires that run from the three-spade connector at the back of the alt. to the three-spade connectornext to the voltage regulator an the relay board.
If you do this just make sure your red, green and brown (I used black, couldn't find brown) match the connections: D+, D-, DF. My plastic plug connectors were shot so I just used insulated spade connectors.
I fed the three wires through the gray factory sheathing, then covered it with some of that black corrogated split casing. Looks neat and works great.
I took some pics, but I'd have to e-mail em to you. I still haven't had time to go buy a program that will let me re-size pics to post here.
Don

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Anyways, there actually are two heavy Red wires that connect from the back of the alt. One runs to the battery, the other completes the circuit to the starter.

Uhh, not really. In stock form, there would be one wire that goes from the alternator to the starter. A separate wire goes from that same starter post to the battery (+) post. That is how the current from the alternator gets to the battery. Sounds like yours has been modified.

--DD

[Loan Dog]

Modified?! On a 914?!! How could this be??!!!!

Yeah, mine has two (probably 10 gage) red wires, going into the back of the alt. What made me think it was stock is the way they are so neatly wrapped together in black tape. They run up through the grommet above the alt. with the other alt. wires then out through the grommet in the rear tin and connect to the POS. starter terminal. From there, the POS batt. cable connects to the same terminal and goes to the batt.

No idea why two wires were used from the alt to the starter. So I guess you've helped me discover yet another mutation! There have been alot of interesting discoveries on this car.

Don