On my maverick if you pull the positive cable off while running it will die. I had the alternator tested and it passed. I also had another alt on it that I know is good. We have had about 3 differnet voltage regulators on it too with no success. The funny thing is that the alt light is not on. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it since me and dad are stumped. I am planning on taking it to the schools shop to see if mike has any ideas
That is EXACTLY what mine was doing! Good alternator not charging. I went one wire after losing my patience and yelling more curse words than a man should use within earshot of children. The GM 10SI allows the ALT light to still be used. Does the ALT light come on when you try to start it? If not check the harness.
If the alt light refuses to light...There is a short/broken wire to it...Fix it and the problem should be solved.That light actually makes the alt charge.If is non functional and all else is good...Charging system wont work. Also...NEVER disconnect the battery with the car running,its a sure fire way to fry the alt and voltage regulator.
Not that its relevant to the thread but i did this once, my car wouldnt stop starting stupid regulator.
I went out and checked again and when you turn the key it never comes on in any of the positions. I figure I need to trace the wire coming from the alt light
I did the exact same thing, went to the 10SI alternator, and love it. The wire for the alt light will be the green wire with red stripe near the voltage regulator. Ground it to something and turn the key to the ON position and your ALT light should be lit. If not, pull the cluster and check the bulb.
the only green wire with a red stripe I can find is the one that hooks onto the solenoid. In my voltage regulator clip it looks like a wire is missing. My dad looked on another harness and said the wire that went there was green. I was wondering if anyone has a pic of their voltage regulator and the wires if you do I would appreciate it
I haven't drove this car regulary in about 2 years and before I parked it the light stayed on all the time.
Don't know if it applies, but when we got our car (6 cyl then) had been sitting... started working on it, alternator light came on running, had alt tested & it was fine, stumped me and my Dad and he's electrical... don't remember exactly, probably by accident, unmounted voltage regulator, isolated it away from fenderwell, and light went out. Ended up a temp fix, velcroed it to fenderwell & worked fine. Eventually, the stickum on the velcro got all saggy, ended up mounting the regulator back to fenderwell, and it's been working fine ever since. Don't know why alternator tested good, but for some reason it fixed itself with driving it. Just try what I did and see if it helps and/or bulbs.
I put a couple different bulbs in it and none worked. I even swapped the brake light in it that I know works and it still didn't work. I will trace wires tomorrow
I checked the 2 wires that go to the alt bulb and both were hot. I tried some more bulbs with no luck. I thought that the plug might be bad so I straighwired the 2 wires together and it still doesn't work
Actually dad figured it out. One of the clips that clips into the voltage regulator was falling apart. It was missing a wire so he swapped one from an old truck and it works great now
