Fireworks from Alternator??

[Mark Howard]

In process of reassembling my '75 914 and the electrical is giving me problems (big suprise, uh?)

There is a blue wire that connects (I think) to the back of the combination guage (fuel, brake light, etc.). Whenever it touches something, BOOM! fireworks!! And a blown fuse. My mechanic seems to think its receiving a charge from the alternator due to bad altenator or bad voltage regulator.

Question 1: Where is the wire suppose to connect to?

Q2: Is this normal behavior due to a bad alternator or regulator?

Before you answer, I've tried to read the wiring diagrams and even had some attempt to explain them to me. Most of the wire colors match but the numbers on the diagrams don't always match the numbers on the components.

Any advice is appreciated.



------------------
Mark Howard
'88 Carrera
'62 356/B
'75 914 1.8 resto

[John Rogers]

I think that wire goes to the alt. indicator light and that also ties to the emergency flasher circuit. It should connect to the bulb on one side and the flasher on the other. Check the color diagram at: http://www.pelicanparts.com/914/parts/Electrical/914_electric_74E.jpg and you'll see it. Good luck.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The blue wire goes from the alternator and voltage regulator (connects inside the relay board) to the alternator warning light. The other side of the light simply goes to switched power. That's probably the fuse that is blowing--the one supplying switched power. Which would mean that the blue wire is getting grounded.

At a guess, the alternator may be plugged in incorrectly, or it may be badly messed up, or the voltage regulator may be badly messed up.

--DD

------------------
Pelican Parts 914 Tech Support

A few pics of my car: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Dave_Darling