I just got my car back from a body shop and I think they forgot to reconnect a wire harness to the voltage regulator. We took the car out last night and it would not re-start. Had to get a jump. Brought it home and then took it to a car parts store today and had the battery tested. The battery is just a few months old. The test indicated the battery was bad so I bought a new one. Now it dawns on me that there is a four wire harness disconnected off of what is apparantly the voltage regulator. The last thing I want to do is create any more problems or damage anything, so my question is: what's the proper procedure for reconnecting the wire harness? I imagine it would be to simply unhook the battery, plug it in and reconnect the battery. I've blown an alternator before and just want to try and avoid it again!

Thanks for your help. I'm afraid I know just enought to be dangerous. :confused:

Stu Opp
'68 convertible

...... what's the proper procedure for reconnecting the wire harness? I imagine it would be to simply unhook the battery, plug it in and reconnect the battery. I've blown an alternator before and just want to try and avoid it again!

Thanks for your help. I'm afraid I know just enought to be dangerous. :confused:

Stu Opp
'68 convertible
Just plug it in as you suggest. I think you are referring to generators (not alternators) that had to be polarized when installed.

You should probably verify the type of alternator installed, just to make sure.

If the small 2 wire connector looks like this: || it is an original type alternator, and needs the regulator connected. If it looks like this -- then it is a new style internally regulated alternator. It does not need the regulator, but there are some wiring changes that should have been done.

Thank you both for your help. I checked the two wire harness and they are l l, so I disconnected the battery and put the 4 wire harness in the regulator. Do you think that's what made the battery go bad? I guess it was just running off the battery. Thanks again for your help. The two wire clip that goes in the alternator is deteriorating. Do you know where I can get just the plastic part?

I think it is always playing it safe to have the battery disconnected and connect it the last thing.

You can usually get that connector with wire pigtails in the help section of a big auto parts store. Pep Boys comes to mind. If you change it, be sure to propely wrap splice, & solder, and cover the connection with heatshrink. You should be able to unwrap the tape, do the splices, and wrap it back up and no one will ever see.

Note that my plastic connector is worn pretty badly, too. I kept it, but found new terminals at the local Napa. If you're getting a good connection, I wouldn't worry about it too much tho.

What do you have to monitor the system voltage?
If you have nothing, at least get the GEN light to work again.

Put a meter on it and make sure it's charging. Should have right around 14 volts at the battery idling with all the lights off. May drop to 13 with the headlights on, but should pick back up by 1500 or 2000 rpm.

I don't think the gen light is working so I'll have to do as you say and test it at the battery. Although the little plastic clip has crumbled some, it is still separating the two leads OK so I guess I won't make it a high priority. Thanks for you help