alternstor break down question

[trucker677]

Hey guys,

I replaced the power steering pressure hose on the car yesterday and when I got everything back together my alternator isn't showing any voltage, it was late when I put everything back together and I was not in the mood to take it all apart again, my question is the voltage at the battery I think should be around 13-14 volts when car running,. at the alternator side of it is there a volt refernce I can check to see if there is a broken wire somewhere or if the alternator is actually pooched. I am typing this out now because I am on lunchbreak at work but I am hoping for answers for when I get home, I am going to check the most obvious first for loose wires but if it is not it then I am going to do a tear apart and go from there, Thanks

[Mrmerlin]

first check the alternator belt,
make sure its tight .
then start the car see if your getting a charge at 13.5 or higher ,
if not try revving the engine to 2500 if you now get a charge then a good chance the small wire has a break in it to the back of the alternator.
Have you checked the brush holder in the back of the alternator, this will wear out and then a new set of brushes will restore function.

[trucker677]

I know the belt is tight, I checked the slack in it last night after tightening it up, The small wire you are talking about, does it have a voltage I can check when running, I am going to assume if it does it is going to be 13.5 volts,

[Mrmerlin]

nope the small wire to the back of the alternaotr is checked disconnected from the alternator And with the key in the run position it should have 12v ,
this is the exciter wire to energize the windings.
remove the brush holder and see if the brushes are worn

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

first check the alternator belt,
make sure its tight .
then start the car see if your getting a charge at 13.5 or higher ,
if not try revving the engine to 2500 if you now get a charge then a good chance the small wire has a break in it to the back of the alternator.
Have you checked the brush holder in the back of the alternator, this will wear out and then a new set of brushes will restore function.

I didn't know this. Where does the exciter wire feed from?

[Mrmerlin]

well the exciter wire routs up the harness,
to the 14 pin at the hot post,
then through to the CE panel,
then to the warning light system,
then to the pod gauges

[trucker677]

Thanks very much Mrmerlin for the help, It was a broken wire, The same you are talking about, it must have broken when I took the alt off and didn't realize it. she is up and running now.

[Mrmerlin]

Keep em flying!

[MPDano]

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

well the exciter wire routs up the harness,
to the 14 pin at the hot post,
then through to the CE panel,
then to the warning light system,
then to the pod gauges

Very awesome! Not to be a pain in the arse, is there a 14 pin breakdown diagram somewhere?

[Mrmerlin]

its in the WSM most years are different so you gotta have the wire diagram