Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

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Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

September 02, 2014, 02:39:53 PM

Im suspecting I may have some wiring issue between my alternator and battery. Im getting around 13-14 volts at the back of the alternator on that terminal. But once I makes it to the battery it drops down to 10 volts. I'm kinda stuck right now so I was wondering where does the other end of that power wire go to? I thought it might go to the starter solenoid but I wasn't sure which terminal it was. I was thinking of running a replacement wire to it to eliminate any possibility of a bad wire.

Thanks all

PS I suck with electrical diagrams..if anyone can dumb it down for me id appreciate it with troubleshooting

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #1 – September 02, 2014, 09:28:56 PM

It goes to the fender solenoid and is wired with 2 Fuse links. Chances are they are open. Pull on them and give them a good tug. That way you can find the bad ones. Or you can replace them with a MAXI FUSE of app 80Amps or so. Or you can run a #8 wire from the ALT to the solenoid if you are not familiar with troubleshooting again with a maxi fuse of app 80 amps.

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #2 – September 03, 2014, 01:13:28 PM

To confirm Tom's suspicion, check the voltage at the alternator (black/orange wire) with the engine off.
If the fuse link is good you should have battery voltage there. If the fuse link is blown, no voltage.
You should have a green wire, a yellow wire and the red battery cable on the starter solenoid.
The fuse link is the green wire on the starter solenoid.

By the way, if your battery voltage with the engine off is 10v, your battery has a dead cell.

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #3 – September 08, 2014, 09:34:19 AM

So make things more confusing or less confusing..I started off with what I thought might of been a bum power wire. But jumping the gun I had my alternator rebuilt and also ran an additional power wire to the solenoid. And about 4 days after that freshly rebuilt 1g alternator ped out again. I just brought it back and I might getting a 3g and doing the conversion instead of rebuilding the 1g again.

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #4 – September 08, 2014, 03:38:15 PM

Couple of really good sites with the "how to" on swapping to a 3G with the second being pretty in depth:

http://www.corral.net/tech/maintenance/130a-tech.html

http://www.geocities.ws/smithmonte/Auto/3G_130A_Alternator_Upgrade.htm

Darren

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #5 – September 08, 2014, 08:10:15 PM

Or a GM diesel alt and call it a day.

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #6 – September 14, 2014, 12:37:32 PM

careful,,
this is a TC guys!
We've been down that road before......... remember the shunt lead?

here is our specific car diagrams,,, can also be found as a sticky in the greatest hits and inside tips section.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?13641-3g-install-**go-directly-to-post-50-for-drawing

please read this if you own a 2.3 and consider a 3g swap "death of a tbird"
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?15802-3G-Installation-Failure-The-Death-of-a-Turbo-Coupe&highlight=3g

all this and more found in my diy link below.......... I have a helava collection of "The Renzo Files" I am going to upload as well soon.

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #7 – September 14, 2014, 12:54:33 PM

and to further point out the obscurity of this swap to exactly this model / car,, the 1988 harness is a one year deal only.
different from the 87 in so many ways, to the point ford had an evtm *JUST FOR THIS YEAR*,, wiring diagrams in my sig below

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #8 – September 16, 2014, 05:07:11 PM

I find it interesting how people complicate a simple wiring job. All you have to do is wire the 3G like bellow. It makes no difference what year or for that matter what car it is in or engine it is bolted to or what spins it!!!!! Jump A to the battery lug Connect S to the little lug and connect you dash light or key battery to I. Feed it to the positive side of the battery with a number 8 wire to the heavy lug. Finished neat clean and no BS. Now a GM alternator outperforms ford units hands down. The car does not care what Alt is in it The engine that spins it and the battery loves it because it charges great. Now what about that shunt lead humor me. have a great evening guys.

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #9 – September 20, 2014, 09:42:16 PM

back up tom, you have not seen everything, ,just most everything.
click the link to the car that caught fire,,, there are precautions to the 2.3 specifically and more important, the 1988 model.

don't assume

Wiring issue between alt and battery...88 TC..help

Reply #10 – September 20, 2014, 11:01:23 PM

The way i posted it is definitely correct and i do it this way all the time. Remember to use fuse links and there is no fire issues whatsoever. Wiring the Ford unit the way i posted it is the easiest and best way to do it. I do wire tucks all the time and this provides me with less bulky wiring and less aggravation. have a great day.