Today I started up the SA. It ran good and then the idle got all lumpy. I shut it down, looked for any obivious cause and then tried to restart it. I noticed the battery was nearly dead.

I then charged the battery and started the car. I pulled the - cable off the battery and it died, confirming my suspicion the alternator was out. I check my fuses and all 3 were good. I then checked where I disconnected the voltage regulator when I swapped in the jumpers nesascarry for an S5 alternator.looked good, but I decided to make a new plug for it soldered in and clean up all the contacts.

I tried to start the car again, still no alternator power. I grabbed my tester light and checked the B (+) terminal at the alternator. Nothing. The thick black wire was carrying no positive voltage. I thought it was a direct connection to the positve terminal on the battery, but there was nothing at it.

I decided to temporarily remedy it by running a new cable directly to the positive terminal on the battery from the B terminal on the alternator. Problem solved, the car runs.

But I'm troubled as I wonder what couldv'e caused this wire to not be carrying any voltage. I looked around and saw no obvious cause of this. Does anyone have any ideas as to why I would suddenly see no voltage at the thicker black wire that runs to the alt's B terminal? I hope to have this fugured out soon.

 

external voltage regulator