Alternator/wiring fault?
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi, like many others on here I've fitted an alternator from a Diahatsu Charade. It has been connected up as per TD's instructions in the FAQ section. With the battery connected it seems to get hot to the touch. Also with the battery disconnected the pulley is mildly magnetic and when the battery is connected the magnetism on the pulley is increased. Is this normal?
Regards, Moggy.

Hi,
Doesn't sound right to me. Shouldn't get hot.
Have you got the ign feed live all the time?
Do you still get hte problem with the small plug unplugged?
With the small plug unplugged can you measure the current draw from the alternator?
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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Hi Bat, I think you could be onto something here, the small brown/blue ignition live from the alternator I think I've got going to the same part of the starter motor solenoid as the live feed from the battery. Could this be causing the heating if so where should this wire be connected as I'm sure by looking at the wiring diagram in the Haynes manual it shows it those two wires terminating together?
Moggy.

Hi,
Where's the brown blue connected to on the alternator?
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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It is connected to the botton terminal of the T shaped connector. In TD's instructions in the FAQ section it says that this terminal should be wired to ignition live but if I do this then I don't get any charge warning light. I'm confused.

How has everyone else wired their jap alternators in?

Hi,
you don't want the brown blue on there. Stick it on the bolt with the main battery feed.
You need the brown and yellow going to the L terminal on the alternator, this is your warning light on the dash.
You can check it's working by earthing it on the engine with the ignition on, the light should come on.
You need an ignition live connected to the IG terminal on the alternator.
This isn't in the mini wiring to the alternator, you'll need to pick one up from the coil for instance, this is nearest or better still from the clump of green wires on the fuse box, then the wire has "some" protection from a short circuit.
NOTE check you do have 12volts at thwe coil, and not a ballasted system!
Try that and see how you get on.....
Cheers,
Gavin :)

Edited by Bat on 12th Apr, 2007.

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Right then, then dash warning (brown and yellow) on the L terminal and with the ignition on it works. I have run a wire from the ignition live from the fuse box (white wire) and connected it to the IG terminal of the alternator. Now when I put the ignition on the warning light doesn't work but when I disconnect the ign. live from the IG terminal it does, HELP!!

Hi,
Erm, you do have the main battery feed on and a good earth to the engine, don't you?
Failing that do you know the alternator is a good working one?
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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All connections are sound. Alternator is brand new so it looks like I've cooked the diodes by connecting a permanent live to them, Opps.

Hi,
That could be a possibility. You can bench test it with a battery some bits of wire and a test light to be sure. Not trying to insult you, but you've checked teh right wires go to the right pins on the small plug?
Anyway, that's what the warranty is for!
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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