Alt issue.

[chowda633]

Its a brand new 1G that was in the car when I got it. Had a plug on it too that looked like it had been cut from somewhere else. Had a red and a blue wire and it was a new plug.

I guestimated the wiring of it because the car harness is black on both. One wire was bigger than the other and the same on the alt. So I wired the big to the big and the little to the little.

I got the car running. It runs mint with cables connect but as soon as I disconnect it starts to loose power and run all wacked out. No check engine light though.

Dam does it run mint though when I have the cables on it.

Now the alt. was in a fire at some point because half the harness is melted and I am wondering if there is a short in there? I figure if I wired the plug backwards it would catch on fire? Alt fuse was fine before I started it up. Have not looked at it since. I don't believe the car will start with out it. The battery is holding a charge now also. Threw in a dead yellow optima and brought it back to life.

So throw me some ideas here?

Hack up the wiring? It seems that it was a black pool of plastic at the bottom of the alt harness also. The round metal loop that holds the harness in the air is not even there that connects on the back of the alt is gone.

*Update*

Checked out the wiring but it seems fine. The plug has a red and a blue wire. Don't want to risk swapping them. Alt fuze is fine. What am I looking for on the volt meter down there?

 

[squeak104]

Beyond the fact that its incredibly hard to understand what you are trying to say, are you saying you disconnect the battery cables and it "runs all wacked out" or what are you trying to say?

 

[93_tsi_fwd]

Is this in a 1g or a 2g?

If your doing this on a 2g, take it out. Go to a local junk yard and look for a 95 or so mitsubishi EXPO. They use the same alternator as our 2g turbo cars. It is a direct swap and harness would just plug right in. Its only like $20 at a junk yard.

 

[chowda633]

Sry about that.

The original alt on the car caught on fire from what I can tell. The front case is melted and some of the plastic harness is melted around the alt harness. I checked the wires and they seem ok.

When I bought the car there was a brand new alt. sitting in the front seat with a new plug attached to it because the original one had been burned up. The new plug has a red and a blue wire. One was bigger than the other so I wired it up accordingly.

Now it seems the alt is not functioning. Because when I take the jumper cables off the car stumbles and the lights dim etc. Car will not run right with out the cables hooked up.

What do I test on the harness to see if I have the new plug wired up the right way?

 

[Boomer420s]

If you take your voltmeter leads, and place the red lead on your alternator chargeback wire. The one hooked straight to the battery and you place the black lead on the positive terminal of your battery, you check the charging circuit. If you have 14V or higher, your alternator is charging the battery. If you place the red lead on your negative terminal of the battery and place the black lead on your alternator case, you test the ground circuit. These tests should tell you your state of the alternator.

Now, for the plug you wired. A wiring schematic will tell you which wire is connected to which one.

If your car dies after jumper cables are removed, your alternator is not powering the system, the battery is. In that case, the "booster" battery is.

If the alternator looks to have caught on fire, might be good practice to replace.

Good Luck.

 

[DSMunknown]

Josh, I'm assuming you tested the battery, correct (and not just testing it through a battery charger)? I would buy a cheap (but new) battery as well as another used 1G alternator (in good condition of course). I would be skeptical of a completely dead battery being brought back to life and expecting it to perform "like new" or "as expected". Photos would also be helpful.

 

[chowda633]

Well its a optima yellow top. Will try that too.

The alt. is brand new. The old alt was the one that caught on fire before I bought the car.

Basically I need to know if I wired the plug right.

I am guessing its wrong if its not working?

 

[chowda633]

Well I switched the wires and no fire started. Car seemed to run on its own better now. Think the battery is dying also. Will look into it more tomorrow. Ripped it up the street once with the exhaust dragging seemed to want to go. Def. Got a boost leak somewhere also.

 

[DSMunknown]

Def. Got a boost leak somewhere also.

You know where to go for one off the shelf. Here.

 

[chowda633]

Got a sweet one off ebay.

 

[DSMunknown]

Make sure you mark this thread as "Resolved" if you're all done.