QuestionQUESTION: Dear Roger,
I have a 1989 Volvo 240DL. When I turn the key on, the alternator light on the dash does not light up. With the key on, there is no voltage at the field wire on the back of the alternator. With the engine running, there is no voltage at the field wire on the back of the alternator. The alternator is not putting out any voltage. I have check and verified a good ground to the alternator. If I supply voltage to the field wire, the alternator will produce a solid 14.40 volts. I think I may have a bad instrument cluster or a bad ignition switch. What do you think?
John
ANSWER: John, I think you have a bad field wire. Run a jumper wire from the engine harness block to the alternator and see if that is the issue. That red wire is a common problem. Roger
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QUESTION: Dear Roger,
Thank-you for your response. I have run a jumper to the alternator field connector and when I do, the alternator puts out voltage, but when I turn off the key, the engine continues to run until I disconnect the jumper. Your suggestion to run a jumper from the engine block harness, must mean you want me to run a jumper from where the field wire comes out of the harness to the alternator. I can do that, but I do not know where or what the engine block harness is. Please help?
John
PS Several people have had the instrument cluster out of this car and I do know know it's good or bad status.
AnswerJohn, yes thats what I meant. Where the engine wiring harness connects to the block at the firewall. Run a red wire fromt the wire that goes into the car to the ALternator and see what happens. If someone has put the Red/whitewire on the cluster and your car has no tachometer, then the board, speedo head would be fried. Roger
