s5 alternator, with the harness unplugged.
 

ok.

what does the little harness that plugs into the alternator do? I know one of them is for the warning lights.

But... what does the other one do? Will the alt still charge with it unplugged?


please dont ask why... haha. I just need to know.

Thanks.

One of them is a 12v regulator signal to tell the alternator when it needs to be charging....

when they test alts at autozone they dont hook up a wire to this harnes and the thing still charges...

so im confused.

Sorry, worded that wrong.
Im pretty sure its just a 12v feedback so the regulator knows how much its putting out.

Try doing that on your car, and you're going to end up either frying the alternator, or the alternator frying all your electronics in the car.

Usually, when the bench test the alternator, they hook up an alligator clip to one of the leads - maybe you missed this part of the test?


-Ted

ok. So from the pic you posted the S-terminal on the s5 and the L-treminal on the s4 are the same? i guess?

I have a s4 now and may have to put a s5 alt in temporarly. Thats why i wondered.

I actually had a few thoughts about running dual alts till i can afford a fd one.
Im tired of blowing alts every month or so, and im tired of dead batterys.


So the S and L terminals are the same?