alt wiring

[monterey1962]

the 3ag altenator is 130 amp...........the 95 mustang gt altenator fits our cars.......the altenator physically bolts in place of the stock 65 amp unit
some minor rewiring is required.......the regulator plug plugs right in to the 130 amp 3ag. you need to add a heavy wire to the battery with a 80 amp fuse (the stock altenator wiring barely handles the 65 amp altertenator) put a connector on the stator terminal and pluf into the 3ag, and put ring terminals on the other two heavy gauge wires and hook to the output stud on the 3ag.........took me less than an hour btw

Scott, what gauge wire did you use? Where the heck did you find the 80 amp fuse? I've been all over town and nobody has one.

Does that heavy wire connect to the alt on the same post as the other two wires? Where does it connect at the battery's end?

Btw, my 3ag alt will be here on Wednesday.

[monterey1962]

I should just listen to you guys from the start. Everytime I don't listen to save a few bucks it bites me in the ass.

[boXman]

[monterey1962]

The original, old alt was working decent. I just messed with the '88 tonight. This alt is not charging well, at all. Headlights, signal lights, a/c, and brakes held take the voltmeter way below 12. I'm gonna run to CarQuest in the morning and just order the 3ag and be done with this.

[Paul_]

It may not be the alternator. Could be dirty grounds.

[monterey1962]

I had the battery and alt tested today down at Interstate Batteries. They show to be up at the proper charges (running and not running).

With the car in gear, a/c on, and brakes held, my voltmeter drops to twelve. It will bounce to just under 12 if the signal lights are on.

1. Is this normal? Will this be causing my headlights to dim at that low of charge?

2. What triggers the "amps" idiot light in the dash?

3. Would I have been better off just spending the money on the 3ag alt?

4. Is this the part where Scott tells me "I told you so?"?

[Lincolnmania]

was just gonna say defective altenator

[monterey1962]

Second "new" alt is in and appears to be working well. I also got a new terminal for the positive battery cable and a battery hold down kit. Tarp straps just don't cut it.

[gadget73]

Alt is toast. Take it back and get another. The one on my truck did something like that, the lights would pulse with the engine running and the voltmeter would steadily twitch back and forth. They tested it good, insisted that the alt was fine, and finally gave in and gave me a new one. New one doesn't make the lights flicker.

[monterey1962]

Got it at CarQuest. When the car is running, the needle will go up to 14, do a sudden drop to below 12 and sit there, jump back to 14, etc.

[Paul_]

Where did you get the alternator? If you got it from AutoZone, it's possible it's defective. AutoZone is infamous for that. My friend had to replace the alternator in his Chevy Astro 3 times. I thought it was because it was a Chebby but the alternators were defective.

[monterey1962]

I've got a problem. When I start the '88, the "amp" light comes on and she only charges at 12. I have to ride the gas a couple times to get the charge up. What should I look at first: the new alt or the 1yr old battery?

[Lincolnmania]

does the 91 have the instaclear windshield? if so that's why it has the 100 amp altenator

[monterey1962]

I noticed on the '91 GM that the alt is much larger and has wiring similar to the 3ag alt. Did '91's come with the 3ag or could this be a 100 amp alt? I'll try and get a pic.

Edit: The '91 has an external regulator, also.

To add to this: Could it be possible that the '91 GM was sent from the factory with a 100amp alt because of the "windshield de-icer" option? When pushing that button, the engine is bogged down badly. I don't even use that option because I don't think it is the original windshield since it doesn't have the "golden tint" that those windshields were supposed to have and it obviously doesn't de-ice.

[mrltd]

13.8-14 is normal...when you're 12 and under, there is an issue