Alternator wire replcement

[tdh10]

I recently bought a 160 amp alternator for my 88 930. I have an aftermarket radio and amp which would require more juice so I thought it would be best to upgrade. Also, my last two alternator lasted only a couple of years each and I was hoping this new alternator would do the trick. With a higher amp alternator, I heard it's a must to upgrade the ground wire and the wire to the starter. I read awg 3 is best. My question is, how do you replace the wire to the starter? I believe it's the red wire (two of them) but the red wires are wrapped with the ground and blue wires in a plastic wrap that disappears into the engine. This got me stumped and really appreciate any advice.

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[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by tdh10

I recently bought a 160 amp alternator for my 88 930. I have an aftermarket radio and amp which would require more juice so I thought it would be best to upgrade. Also, my last two alternator lasted only a couple of years each and I was hoping this new alternator would do the trick. With a higher amp alternator, I heard it's a must to upgrade the ground wire and the wire to the starter. I read awg 3 is best. My question is, how do you replace the wire to the starter? I believe it's the red wire (two of them) but the red wires are wrapped with the ground and blue wires in a plastic wrap that disappears into the engine. This got me stumped and really appreciate any advice.

That is simply not accurate.

Despite the alternator's ability to generate 160 amps, it is not going to do so unless the accessories draw that many amps, and in that case, the only wire that needs to be up to the task of high amps like that is the one feeding the high draw accessories. In other words, there is no need to change the starter or alternator ground wires unless they are currently in poor condition (and you definitely do not "need" a ginormous 3 gauge wire for either of them).

[Gretz]

Try the 911 Technical forum.