richkrueger

help! i have a 68 cutlass with a 73 455 engine, the new alternator is not charging at all. It has an external regulator and a two prong connector with one black lead and one blue lead from the alternator. it is currently hooked up to the original blue and white leads from the alternator. Blue to blue and black to white, it does not charge in this wiring configuration, however if i switch the alternator connector wiring to black to blue and blue to white is starts charging. is it possible that the new connectors blue lead should not go to the blue original wire?

Thanks, a little confused

Octania

Incompatible systems?
Your alternator [current one] small terminals like this
| |

or like this
-- --

??

the latter is more modern, and some small additional wire fiddling at the regulator is required to use the -- type on a 1968 car which came with || type.

richkrueger

Octania, the current connector has two vertical terminals and an external regulator, i believe the white wire goes to the alternator light in the dash and the blue wire goes to the battery?

MDchanic

Not even close.

Do you have a wiring diagram? They can be very helpful.



The blue wire is the Field wire, and goes from the alternator field coil to the regulator F terminal.

The white wire is the Relay wire, and goes from the alternator to the regulator R terminal.

The red wire is the charging wire, and goes from the alternator to the regulator and the battery.

The Brown wire is the Light wire, and goes from the regulator L terminal to the indicator light (and to (+) when the ignition switch is on).

- Eric

richkrueger

thanks, i will check that in the morning, hopefully the wires aren't crossed since they have been cut and re-connected in the past.