OK- My alternator is sortof pooched.. I've got a huge 12V current draw on the "R" connector of the alternator (but it's not grounding?! weird) it's enough to kill the battery in 3 hours if the car is not running. Aanyways, I just unplugged the R connector, and left the "L" one in place, and the car runs just fine, actually running at around 14V instead of the weak 12.8 that it was at.
I'm asssuming maybe it's causing the alternator to running at full capacity, since the "R" is the the power source for the IC regulator. It's definatly not overcharging though- never going over about 14V.

Anyone see anything wrong with this situation? If it IS running at full capacity, I can picture it havoing a short life, but at least is it safe to run for a few weeks? (It seems to be charging just fine- not too much at all)

 

I just compared the schematics of the S4 and S5 alternator circuits.. on the S4, both the IC regulator wires are shut off with the ignition. On the S5, the "R" one stays on all the time. This alternator wouldn't have this problem in an S4, because there is no power on the R connector when the car is off, but mine does (S5), and so that's why it's draining.
SO maybe you CAN'T use an S4 alternator on an S5 car without putting a relay on that "R" wire, to shut it off when the ignition is off.

 

ya I've seen something like this metioned before about the S4 /S5 diffs. I think there is also something about putting an FD one an S4 since the FD is the same as the S5.

 

Yep, seems to me like they are forward compatible, but not backwards!

 

Hey Bambam7. Still waiting for payment or return of that OMP. Haven't seen any replies to recent PM's. What's the status?

 

That's odd. A series four alt in a series five??? Are you sure you don't have the small wires crossed??

Does your idiot light cluster stay on all the time??? Or does it come on just when the key is turned to ON??

 

Try places like http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/ or Summitracing.com for adapters that go from si