How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
The main connection to my alternator keeps shorting out and burning up until the wire actually severs itself from the bolt. The first time this occurerd, I cut off the bad wire and attached a new connector to the end. It burned up again. What am I doing wrong
My car has 208000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. The system is burning the wire connector due to the connection being weak and loose. The wire got hot and melted the first time due to a loose connection causing heat build up. You should also check the battery and the connections to the battery to make sure the battery is not weak or the connections at the battery are requiring the alternator to overcharge. Have a mechanic replace the wire to the alternator and check the complete charging and starting system for other problems. A certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the electrical problem and guide your through repairs.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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The main wirings include the exciter wire, positive and negative cables. Exciter wire is connected to the L terminal of an alternator and is used to turn on the voltage regulator. Excitor wire is needed to generate the voltage required for the alternator to start running.
Generally, that takes the form of under- or over-performing equipment, such as headlights that are either too dim or extremely bright. You may also experience flickering lights or lights that erratically go from bright to dim and vice-versa.
There are three key wires in the loop: a positive wire for the battery, a sensing wire for voltage, and an igniting wire. The ignition input wire is linked to the engine. The energy detection cable monitors voltage and transmits it to the converter, while the energy wire links the alternator and the engine.
These sensing wires measure the actual battery terminal voltage and allow the regulator to drive the voltage at the battery end to the correct point. Voltage is the pressure that allows current to flow into the batteries. Incorrect voltage sensing causes your regulator to prematurely begin limiting voltage.
Three-phase systems may have a fourth wire, common in low-voltage distribution. This is the neutral wire. The neutral allows three separate single-phase supplies to be provided at a constant voltage and is commonly used for supplying multiple single-phase loads.
The third pin is usually found on Li-Poly, or Lithium Polymer batteries and is required in order to charge the battery safely. Because these batteries are usually multi-cell, the third pin is used for balancing the charge between each of the cells.
Alternator repair kits are usually less than $30, depending on which components you need to fix. Again, you need the proper tools and a little know-how, but if you`re able to find the right kit and know what you`re doing, you can rebuild an alternator for a fraction of the cost of even a remanufactured unit.
Alternator ratings range from about 60 or 70 amps up to 150 amps or more on many late-model vehicles. Some high-output alternators can generate upward of 200 amps. The amp rating of the alternator is matched to the vehicle`s electrical system.
One of the most common problems you`re likely to experience with an alternator is a failure in the bearings. There are needle bearings in the alternator that allow the rotor to freely spin inside the housing, and those bearings can break down over time as a result of exposure to heat and dirt.
The alternator is grounded to the engine block by its mounting points so the engine block itself becomes an electrical ground distribution block. You just need to find a suitable bolt to secure your additional ground wire. You can add a wire from the chassis of the car to the engine block.
Technically, the role of the alternator is to turn alternating AC current from the engine into direct DC current for all your vehicle`s electronic devices. Over time, the diodes inside can short out and this can allow alternating current into your car`s electrical system, wreaking havoc on your car`s electronics!
If the alternator wires are hooked up incorrectly, it can cause a variety of issues with your vehicle`s charging system. If it is the phase wires on a 3 phase system if the cables are wired incorrectly motors may spin in the wrong direction.
The voltage regulator controls the amount of power distributed from the alternator to the battery in order to control the charging process. Regulators are designed with different functions and work depending on their specification.
The wire from the solenoid to the starter is called the main positive starter cable. The wire from the relay to the alternator is the main charging wire.
If installing an alternator with Remote Sense capabilities in a vehicle that does not have a Remote Sense line, connect a fused (5 Amp) insulated wire from the Alternator Remote Sense terminal to the positive (+) battery terminal or the common distribution point such as the starter solenoid battery (+) terminal.
3-phase 4-wire: This system uses star-connected phase windings and the fourth wire or neutral wire is taken from the star point. If the voltage of each winding is V, then the line-to-line voltage (line voltage) is √3V and the line-to-neutral voltage (phase voltage) is V.
Transmission lines are always built with sets of three conductors with an optional small wire or two at the top of the structure to serve as lightning protection.
While the size of your fuse depends on the amperage of your alternator, you should generally select a fuse that can handle more amperage than your alternator is able to output. For example, if your alternator outputs 200 amps, you should choose a fuse that`s no less than 200 amps.
Your vehicle is equipped with relays to help power your starter, lights, and other parts of its electrical system. Not all vehicles have alternator relays, but if your vehicle`s battery is dead and you`re not sure why, a malfunctioning or broken alternator relay could be the cause.
Most car batteries use a 12-volt power supply, which is best suited to a 6-gauge battery cable (the standard).
Battery cable is an efficient solution when it comes to connecting a battery to its starter. A direct connection with few sharp turns is where the strength and durability of battery cable comes. through. For example, battery cable is often found in boats, buses, cars, trucks, RVs and tractors.
Simply check the voltage of your battery by touching the multimeter prongs to the terminals with the car shut off. Take note of that number; it should be somewhere in the 12-to-13-volt range, according to Hines. Then, start the car and check the voltage at the battery again while the vehicle is running.
One of them is the battery sense wire which is connected to the positive battery terminal & the other one illuminates the battery light which also becomes a part of the charging circuit Once the light switches off & the alternator starts charging !
Since fuses restrict current flow, the fuse rating should be about 20% over the output rating of the alternator. If you have a 200A alternator, use a 240A fuse.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
how can i fix the charging issues from the alternator to battery
ANSWER : We can repair this for you. The best approach is to return the charging system wiring to the original configuration that is documented in the Factory Service Manual. Once the physical wiring is in place, it is a relatively simple matter to use that same diagram to test charging system output and verify operation. Once everything checks out and consistent alternator output is documented, some final checks are needed to be sure there are no phantom loads or parasitic power draw when the vehicle is either on or off. If you desire to restore the vehicle to the original configuration and get the charging system working, please request an electrical component/circuit diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will commence this repair. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
my battery kept draining until i bought a new alternator and battery. i have tightened the belt on the alternator but it still die
ANSWER : Hi there. The best way to diagnose why a battery would constantly drain is to review it’s job and how it is recharged. The battery is responsible for powering all electrical systems until the vehicle is started. At this point, the alternator takes over and also continually charges the battery while the vehicle is in use. A battery will drain when one of two things occurs. First, a battery will drain if it is constantly in use; supplying power to an electrical component even if the key is not in the ignition. Second, the battery will eventually die if the battery is not being charged frequently. However, since this is happening every two days, my initial thought would be that some electrical component on your 86 Olds is continuing to draw power from the battery. This is known as a parasitic drain. The best way to determine the source of this battery issue is to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a battery will not hold a charge inspection.
Read Full Q/A … : How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
ANSWER : Hello. The system is burning the wire connector due to the connection being weak and loose. The wire got hot and melted the first time due to a loose connection causing heat build up. You should also check the battery and the connections to the battery to make sure the battery is not weak or the connections at the battery are requiring the alternator to overcharge. Have a mechanic replace the wire to the alternator and check the complete charging and starting system for other problems. A certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the electrical problem and guide your through repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
What is the name of the wire that runs from the alternator to the solenoid?
ANSWER : You are asking to name a wire from the alternator to the starter and relay to starter. The wire from the solenoid to the starter is called the main positive starter cable. The wire from the relay to the alternator is the main charging wire. When you go to the dealer you will identify the wire and they will need a wire base part number that only a dealer wire coding manual will have. You would need to go to the service department and they would have to look it up for you if the parts department cannot identify it.
Read Full Q/A … : How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
How much oil needs to leak into an Alternator to cause the Alternator to go bad
ANSWER : It would be difficult to say exactly how much oil it would take to cause the alternator to fail. However, oil leaking on the alternator due to leaking valve cover gaskets can cause it to fail. It seems as if the technician who is servicing your vehicle may not have performed a courtesy inspection to check for other potential issues prior to starting the other repairs you had requested. I would recommend having the alternator replaced if it has oil leaking on it as well as resolving the valve cover gasket leak to prevent it from happening again. You may try to use a different mechanic who is more upfront and honest in the first place. Consider YourMechanic as services such as this can be completed from your home or office.
Read Full Q/A … : How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
is the ecm the problem if battery light is on and the alternator isn’t bad
ANSWER : This is likely a sign of a failing voltage regulator. This is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. In your case, it sounds like the voltage output from the alternator may be much too high resulting in overcharging the battery and burning up wires in the process. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and properly test your vehicle’s charging system.
Read Full Q/A … : How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
Will disconnected wires from the o2 sensor cause the car to die it was a blue wire and a black wire
ANSWER : There is not a blue wire going to the O2 sensor but a blue wire going to the camshaft sensor. Any bare wire that goes to the computer may cause the computer to get shorted and stall the engine. I would have the wires repaired along with the exhaust falling off and then check all the fuses to see if some of the fuses were shorted from the bare wires. Once all fuses are replaced that were bad then see if it will start. Have a mechanic diagnose the problem for you if you need help.
Read Full Q/A … : How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
Car will crank but no start… Fuel pump not coming on. New pump, relay, etc. Will start when hot wire runs from pump wires to bat
ANSWER : There are a couple of approaches to take here – either start from the battery and work "towards" the fuel pump, fuse box, ignition switch, fuel pump relay, and wiring connections in between. Or, as you have done, start at the pump with 12v, and move backwards towards the battery. This will require a GM service manual, or wiring diagram at least, with connection locations as well.
I would recommend having a certified technician from YourMechanic diagnose this starting issue, get an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs. YourMechanic.com can dispatch a mobile, professional mechanic to your location for this repair.
Read Full Q/A … : How to fix the wiring on my alternator?
