Saturn Alternator Swap with a 4-pin Alternator Connector

[6-bolt]

I am putting in a Saturn Alternator in my car this weekend (97 Talon TSI AWD). From research I know the F-wire is connected to a 12V switch power (7.5A). However, I do not know what the L-wire is connected to on the 4-pin connector going to the alternator. Looking at the 4-pin, there is a white wire, red wire, black/yellow wire and a green (maybe brown, I am color blind) wire. Does anyone know what wire I should connect to for the L-wire?

Darren
6Bolt

 

[luv2rallye]

Sounds like you're research was this: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-electrical-wiring/272646-saturn-alternator-swap.html. But that's for a 1g. On a 2g I'd think you'd use the red for F-wire (red is not switched btw), and the black/yellow for L-wire.

 

[6-bolt]

Thanks for the Help luv2rallye.

Yeah, for the swap I got the info from the thread you posted above.

For the 12V switch I got the info from this thread on CO DSM.
mystery battery drain!! - Colorado DSM Club Forums

This was backed up when I found the schematics of the Saturn Alt.
http://www.6bolt.com/Pics/sat_alt.pdf

Darren

 

[6-bolt]

I finally got off my lazy bum and looked up the circuit diagram. Page 116 in the Electrical book, for the 97-99 DSMs.

For the 4-pins

Red – 12v Constant Source
Black/Yellow – Metering of Voltage
Green – Pin 41 on the ECU – Voltage Regulator FR
White – Pin 33 on the ECU – Voltage Regulator G

Darren
6Bolt

 

[turbosax2]

(2G) The 2g connector has 4 wires, but you will only use the 2 middle wires! The Red wire (Field Wire) goes to the F terminal(Blackwire on the saturn connector).
The black with yellow stripe wire(light wire) goes to the L terminal (Black with white stripe wire on the saturn connector)

NOTE: The Red wire on the 2g connector has 12 volts even with the key off. Unhook your battery before doing this!

Also, the saturn plug sometimes has Brown wires and not black, but the terminals are marked on the plug, and the alternator case. You will be using the 2 middle terminals only. L(light) and F(field)

*** WIRING *** It is recomended that you run a 12v SWITCHED ignition source(F on the alt) wire to the alternator rather than use the constant 12v supply found in our cars.

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[HiBoostGST]

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Im bringing this back from the dead. I started on my alt. swap today. After reading turbosax2's post im still a little confused. The pigtail i got for the saturn alternator has three wires: Red, Black, and Brown. The letters on the back of the pigtail matched up like this: Red(SF) Black(L) and Brown(P). The wires i have from my 95 gst are Red (S), Blk/Yellow(L), Green(G), and White(FR) Since im only supposed to be using the "L" and "F" should i wire MY Red to the saturn red, and MY Black/Yellow to the saturn black? so that means that the brown on the saturn pigtail, and MY green, and white will not be used. Someone please let me know if this is correct. Thanks

 

[turbosax2]

Does the red wire on the Saturn pigtail match S or F on the alternator? I'm confused because you said SF. Your green and white will not be used. Mate your red to the Saturn's F terminal, and mate your B/Y to the Saturn's L terminal (black wire on the Saturn pigtail).

 

[HiBoostGST]

The picture of this pigtail is the same one i have. Where the RED wire is, the letters SF are close together then L and P. Im guessing that the Red on the saturn pigtail is supposed to go to F. which would make it Red to Red. Blk/yellow to saturns Black. It would make sense.

Your quote before said it's recommended to use a 12v switched source to F so should i just forget what we were talking about before and bring a switched source. Im so confused.

 

[turbosax2]

Woops, forgot about that. You could use your red wire but it's really recommended to use a switched 12V instead of constant 12V. Commonly people splice one of the fuel pressure solenoid wires for this. That would go to the F terminal on the Saturn. In the picture above I can't tell which pin the red wire goes to. There should be 4 pins total on the connector, and one won't have a wire running to it. You need to find the one that goes to the F terminal.

From what I can tell, the brown wire on the Saturn plug goes to your B/Y, and the black wire goes to your switched 12V source. It appears the red wire is the furthermost left pin and goes to the S terminal (which isn't used).

 

[HiBoostGST]

I think i got it. We already know that our blk/yellow goes to the black on the pigtail. brown is not used. So that leave's red, which should go to a switched source. thanks for your help!

 

[turbosax2]

Are you sure that brown goes to P and black goes to L?

 

[HiBoostGST]

! im so lost now, i keep writing a bunch of stuff down and now it's a blur. From the beginning i guess: The red wire on the pigtail is right between the letters S and F so it's hard to tell which it belongs to. The black wire on the pigtail is pretty much under the L, and the brown is under P.

 

[turbosax2]

Before we can go any further, you have to find out FOR SURE which color wire goes to which terminal. Use a multimeter to verify if needed. You have 3 wires and 4 pins - find out which wire goes to which pin and which pin does not have a wire.

 

[HiBoostGST]

Here are the diagrams from that saturn and our Eclipse

 

[HiBoostGST]

See the problem is i cant turn my car on, the motor isn't ready. But could put in the battery and check which is constant and that could give me a basis i guess.

 

[turbosax2]

No, no. You're making this much more complicated than it is.

Switched 12v goes to F
B/Y goes L

All you need to do is find out which wire on the Saturn connector is F and which is L. Just look at the connector and find out. It's really that simple.

 

[HiBoostGST]

that does make it pretty easy. thanks for your help!

 

[HiBoostGST]

From the saturn diagrams and the other posts im 95% sure that the Black on the pigtail is (F) and what i need to give a switched 12V and the brown on the pigtail is (L) and goes to my black/yellow

 

[thebird_19]

Don't mean to thread jack, but do you need a switched source to f on the 1g as well? It didn't mention it in the swap thread for 1g and I'm about to wire mine up.

 

[mattsGSTeclipse]

Can anyone confirm what wires go to what wires on the pigtail pictured above?

 

[JWoodley]

If you run a self excited regulator you won't have to fool with the harness issue. The only wire you will run to the alternator is the power wire.

 

[mattsGSTeclipse]

I already have the pigtail and I'd rather not buy something else. Thanks though. Anyone know what wires I need to hook up?

 

[thebird_19]

The black wire is F and the brown wire is a L. The big red wire is S which you don't use. Your a 2g so hook the black wire to switched 12v and the brown to your black/yellow wire.

 

[NeMiZiS]

Why would you want a Saturn alternator?
I must have missed something.

 

[turbosax2]

They have better voltage regulators and you can find higher amperage models for a decent price.