QuestionQUESTION: Hi, I bought an old Cadillac as a project car. I'm a new Mechanic and I'm having some trouble with my Charging system. I have an alternator and I'm not sure how to hook it up. I cant find any wires in the car that go to the alternator and I cant find the Voltage Regulator. So If I wanted to Install new wires and a new Regulator who would I go about doing that?
ANSWER: If the alternator is mounted on the engine, the wires should be in place on the terminals on the alternator. Perhaps I don't understand your question.
The voltage regulator is also mounted under the hood, up on the inner fender area behind the headlights. It is a rectangular box, about 2 inches by 3 inches, with a multi-wire connector plugged into the base of it.
Three of the wires go from the alternator to the regulator - you should be able to just follow them, keeping track of the color codes. The wires usually don't need to be replaced with new ones, unless there has been an underhood fire, or someone has vandalized them.
There are two ways to get everything working right again. One is to take the car to an auto-electrical technician who will install and connect whatever is needed.
The other way is to learn about these systems yourself. To do this, get a factory service (AKA "SHOP") manual for the car. Auto literature dealers sell them, or you can watch eBay for a bargain. These manuals have all the wiring diagrams, pictures, and step by step procedures for doing anything you will ever need to do to this car.
One of the auto literature dealers is Ed Faxon at www.faxonautolit.com Ed will know what you need and will have it in stock.
I hope this answers your question - if I have missed your point, rephrase it and ask me again!
If you simply want to troubleshoot the existing charging system, don't start buying pieces of it - you'll no doubt buy a lot more than you need to buy. Just tell me the symptoms, then I'll give you a few tests to perform, and we'll track down the cause.
Dick
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Your Answer does help, but my problem is my I only have 2 wires one goes to from the batt. terminal on the Alternator the the battery. I'm not 100% sure on where the Other one goes, when I plug it into my alternator it turns on a "Gen" light in my Dash Panel. I looked Behind my head light for the Regulator but cant find anything. So I'm kinda stumped on what to do. I want to run new wires but I'm not sure where to start and I don't want to short anything out. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.
I Look forward to Your Reply
AnswerI believe someone has installed a later type alternator on your car, because of the number of wires you have and the absence of the regulator. The later type alternators did not have a separate regulator - it was incorporated in the alternator itself. These are fine alternators, just different in the way they are hooked up.
If this has been done to your car, you probably cannot use the "GEN" light wire. If the battery is staying charged the way the car is now, you can just leave it alone as is. If you want to return the car to the original design, you will have to obtain the original type parts for it and change it back, using the factory manual I mentioned before.
If you don't know if the alternator is working now, there is an easy way to check it: Start the engine, and with it idling, lift off one of the battery cables from the battery. If the engine keeps running, the alternator is working. If the engine dies immediately, the alternator is not working.
I don't see how I can help you further here - I think you will have to take the car to an auto electric technician and ask him to figure out what you have there. There are auto electric repair shops in all mid size and larger towns - your phone book should list one or more for you to use.
Sorry I can't be more help.
Dick
