Suggestions for starter/alternator replacemtent

Good point...

 

I see I'm not the only one with the alternator thing going on right now. I just don't understand why the one-wire hook to the battery is the same as the factory alt. with three-wire connections. How do they do the same thing?

 

I think the other wires are back and forth to the external voltage regulator, where the one-wire has the voltage regulator inside the alternator.

Not sure if that answers your question...

 

Yea, I think that might do some good in the brain. I thought those wires went to the fuse box or something like that. If you do the one-wire alt, what gauge cable do you run to the battery?

 

i am using 10, but some have said 8 is better. That is from the alt to battery. 2 or 4 gauge from battery terminals to ground and to the starter solenoid.

 

The 3-wire models have remote voltage sensing and operate an idiot light. They are a little more accurrate in supplying the correct voltage to the rest of the car (think computers), but they have an internal regulator just like a 1-wire. Unless you're running EFI you don't need to worry about it. My 1-wire puts out 15 volts all the time. Charges the battery quicker and the lights are brighter.

 

Is "idiot light" the ALT light on the dash?

When I cut the main hot wire from the alt and hooked up the new one to the battery, the car ran but the ALT light on the dash came on. I didn't test it, but is that what the little spliced off wire from the main hot recharge wire goes to?

I would like to set the new one up so it still activates that light if anything goes wrong.

 

Try this link for a real good explanation about one wire versus three wire.This guy knows his electrical stuff.
www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/onewire-threewire.shtml

 

Informative article. Funny that he makes a point about not needing to push one type of alternator over another because he doesn't sell alternators. But he does sell the 3-wire "kits" for which he charges $27 for, well, 3 pieces of wire. Still is a good article, though.