Where does this wire go?

[Annapolis76EB]

I was changing alternators tonight and accidentally bumped the wires on my voltage regulator and now I have a wire not connected.I think it is hot. When I was looking for its home I accidentally bumped a wire on the starter with it and the engine turned over. I know the battery should have been disconnected, and it was, but I thought I was finished and hooked it back up. Also, I am not sure if this matters but for some reason my headlights went out. They were on and when I revved the engine up they went out but the park lights still work. The truck des start but I am not sure what the deal is now.

 

[Annapolis76EB]

For some reason it is saying my pics are formated wrong, but the wire in question is a wire coming off of the votage regulator. There are two wires coming off of the A plug and one goes to the alternator and the other is hanging lose with a connector on the end. The I and G spots on the regulator are empty. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Any pictures? Wire color, etc.?

My guess is it is a sense wire so the regulator knows what voltage the system is at and regulates off that. Reason for that is I think you burned out both headlights reving the engine with an artificially full fielded alternator. Bet the high beams still work (I would normally say check with the engine off but if the lows are burned out, what does it matter if the highs are burn out as well?)

 

[Viperwolf1]

"I" on the regulator should be empty. I don't know of a "G" spot on the regulator. Maybe I just haven't been able to find it. What color is the wire?

 

[Broncobowsher]

I can't even type fast enough to ask the questions that you are already trying to answer. Now to look at http://www.fordfuelinjection.com/public/alternator/1G-ALT_wiring.gif and try to figure it out.

 

[Viperwolf1]

The "I" is for the charge indicator light. Since the bronco doesn't have one, that terminal is not used.

 

[Annapolis76EB]

Sorry it is S not G and the wires are yellow but one ties in to the alternator. I took pics and for some reason it wont upload; something about format being wrong.

 

[Annapolis76EB]

I dont know if it matters but I only have 2 wires coming off of my alternator. As screwy as the wiring is on this thing it is probably my ground missing.

 

[Viperwolf1]

A green-red wire goes to "S". It's only hot with the key on. A yellow wire goes to the "A". It's always hot. "F" has an orange wire that goes to the alt field. There's also a black-red that connects the reg body (ground) to the alt ground.

 

[Annapolis76EB]

Is it normal to have 2 wires coming off of the A port? One is going to the alternator but the other is haning. Maybe it was always haning and I just found it on accident. There IS a wire coming from S terminal. Should I just tie the other yellow wire in with the second yellow one running to the alternator. I am convinced this wire was not hooked up now since the wire from the A terminal to the Alternator has been spliced right there. Damn that is dangerous having a hot wire just sitting like that; even if it did have a rubber sleeve pulled over it. Any idea why my headlights would have quit working but my park lights are still good? Are the HL on a different circuti than the parking lights? God I hate wiring.

 

[oleguy74]

alt A wires

the other wire on A goes to a noise suppression capicitor that what plugs into that rubber sleeve.yours might be gone.capicitor that is.this where the wires go.

 

[Annapolis76EB]

What the heck is a noise suppression capacitor and is it needed? Thanks for tracking this down for me; this makes sense now.

As for the headlights going out and the parking lights still working, could this be a fuse? Are the headlights on a different circuit than the parking lights?

 

[Viperwolf1]

What the heck is a noise suppression capacitor and is it needed? Thanks for tracking this down for me; this makes sense now.

As for the headlights going out and the parking lights still working, could this be a fuse? Are the headlights on a different circuit than the parking lights?

You can use a condensor from a points type distributor in place of the missing one.

The headlights are on a totally different circuit than the park lights. Check the dimmer switch for corrosion.

 

[Annapolis76EB]

What the heck does this capacitor do and will I hurt anything if I drive to the parts store without it? Thanks for the help on this. I really appreciate it.

 

[Viperwolf1]

It gets rid of high frequecy noise in the electrical system and probably helps the points in the regulator to last longer.

 

[Annapolis76EB]

Sorry to beat this to death, but I have a 76 with durasprk and have no pints to use in its place. Can I buy one of these at the parts store or do I need to head to a junk yard? Also, will it hurt if I drive without the capacitor?

 

[Viperwolf1]

Ask for condensor for a pre-74 almost anything.

 

[Larry B]

Drive it to the patys store

 

[DirtDonk]

As Larry said, no trouble driving it without the capacitor/condenser/radio noise supressor/choke/coil. I mention all those because, depending on what book you're reading, the little thing is called any one of those names. Same thing, different name.
There's usually a matching one wired to the positive side of the ignition coil too. Look for a bare wire there too, while you're at it. If you have an extra wire hanging off the ignition coil, hook it to a noise surpressor or just tape it off too.

Paul

 

[JIMJEO]

I don't know of a "G" spot on the regulator. Maybe I just haven't been able to find it.

Ah the mythical G spot, now I've got to find one on my truck?...