What color are the wires supposed to be going to the alternator? I am having problems charging and am trying to weed things out.

 

Easy fix, on the 2 wire prong behind the alternator, the top male terminal needs a 12v to excite the alternator

 

Ok. Here's the deal. If I charge the battery I the car will start and run. Once I shut the car off, the battery doesn't have enough juice left to start again. I know very little about electrical systems. I know a alternator charges a battery but not how it actually works. when the alternator is producing power will it send that directly back to the battery through the same connection that powers it?

 

How long do you let it run or idle for?
Are using a VOM to verify if the alternator is charging at all?
Check the voltage at B terminal and battery. Reading at battery will be slighlt lower than B terminal due to voltage drop

 

Check the + & - connections to the battery aren't corroded at the battery posts. That would explain your symptoms.

 

20 minutes, maybe longer. long enough to charge the battery I would think. I'll check the voltage tomorrow and let you know. Thanks for the help.

 

Battery is at 13.5 and about 12.5 when running at the terminals. I only had a minute tonight, I will hopefully get it figured out this weekend. Thanks for the help.

 

Yeah you need to full charge the battery and maybe its time to upgrade both battery cables to 0 gauge or welding cable without those junk gold terminals. You should use a thicker cable also from B terminal to the fusible link junction box