Three diodes in the alternator of my '79 have failed within 200 miles. The local electric shop says it's a coincidence and nothing else is causing the failures. I have trouble believing that. The car has only 50K and I question whether any diodes should have failed, especially not three in short order. Ideas?

Thanks, Rob

 

Yeah. Upgrade to an internally regulated alt like '80 and later RX-7s. I've upgraded my REPUs, Cosmo etc.

 

Thanks Jeff. If I have trouble once more I'm going to look into what you suggest. But answer a question if you will: Does a later alternator eliminate the separate voltage regulator altogether? If so, how is the new alt properly conneted into the old harness?

Rob

 

The new alt does let you remvoe the Separate regulator.

You have to make two jumper wires and install them in the plug that did connect to the Regulator. There is info on how to do this in the 1st gen archive here
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/


You will have to search for the thread.




Well the thread was only a couple down so here it is

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=alt

 

Just unplug the voltage reg, find the wires plug and jumper them over to the wires which run over to the alt. Use a continuity tester to identify them. Then once you're happy with that part, all you need to find are two more wires; one is switched on when the ignition switch is set to the ON position. The other goes to your alt/gen light. If you can figure out these two wires, just use logic and jumper them in the voltage reg plug and connect the original three wire alt plug to a new two wire T shaped plug which matches the connector on the alt.

 

my 81 ate alts every few mts. after i installed a extra ground to the body and to the motor it seemed to fix the alt. killing