Let's Do This Alternator Convo Again...
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,019
your car is wired incorrectly, its quite simple, the alternator sees 0V when the car is off and the regulator tries to charge the battery, thus draining the battery. This load is about 1A, hopefully your regulator isn't fried and you can still correct this problem. I can say for a fact that until i figured this one out on my own, 100% of everything i read online about how to do the wiring was WRONG. Please read as EVERY ONLINE WRITEUP IS WRONG.
I have contributed to this site and they now have it correct
http://www.rx7.org/
I have contributed to this site and they now have it correct
http://www.rx7.org/
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 24,416
From: Stuart, FL
Yer welcome to do a write up for the FAQ section here. The alternator I ordered is not load sensing, it's just like the s4 alternator so there shouldn't be any ecu wiring necessary, should be a plug in the pigtail and roll with it. Like I said before hopefully I'll get this rolling before I am off on vacation.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,963
From: Sunny South Florida :)
Originally Posted by djgiantrobot' date='May 30 2004, 09:36 AM
solder the L plug to the dash warning light and the S plug to B+ (battery constant). Doing otherwise will make the alternator think that is needs to be charging the battery when the car is off and can fry the internal regulator, it will also create a high output condition while the car is running, thats why people are seeing 14.7V and think its a good thing, it isn't.
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 24,416
From: Stuart, FL
Originally Posted by mazdadrifter' date='May 30 2004, 08:59 PM
what's the easiest way to get to the dash warning light? does the idiot cluster just pull out of there? or maybe a is there a wire that i can tap into below the dash?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,502
From: Canada
I rearranged the wires in the harness plug in my '86 to fit an 88+ style (darker shaded, not back-lit) idiot cluster while the dash was still in place. There should be lots of space to play with. Just be careful not to break the bezel.
Pry it up from the bottom with a flathead screwdriver (carefully), then remove the two screws holding the cluster in place and pull it out, the harness is all right there.
Pry it up from the bottom with a flathead screwdriver (carefully), then remove the two screws holding the cluster in place and pull it out, the harness is all right there.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,784
I have an FD alternator. How would I check to see if ist wired the right or wrong way. I'm sorry if its really easy but i'm a complete newb when it comes to figuring this stuff out if i havent already done it before.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 10,906
From: Peoria, AZ
Originally Posted by Dramon_Killer' date='May 31 2004, 01:33 PM
I have an FD alternator. How would I check to see if ist wired the right or wrong way. I'm sorry if its really easy but i'm a complete newb when it comes to figuring this stuff out if i havent already done it before.
I just installed my fd alt minutes ago according to digbots directions, works perfectly
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,502
From: Canada
Strange though I never had an overvolt problem and I had just soldered the newer plug in place of the old one. It still charged at a reasonable level, never overvolt... But like I mentioned I did have the drain problem after a few weeks.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,784
Originally Posted by 1Revvin7' date='May 31 2004, 01:39 PM
Check to see if you have a volatage drop with the car off.
I just installed my fd alt minutes ago according to digbots directions, works perfectly
I just installed my fd alt minutes ago according to digbots directions, works perfectly