Topic: alternator
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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I noticed that the brown wire on the left plug of my alternator came loose. Car seems to run fine. Not sure how long its been that way. Do I need to attach it back? Thanks for any help
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It's likely a ground wire and probably won't affect a thing. But it's never a good thing to leave loose wires hanging around... I'd do a continuity check and make damn sure it's what you think it is, and hook it back up.
"Let them that don't want none have memories of not gettin' any."
- Brother Dave Gardner
I'm pretty sure that's the one that broke on mine and I didn't notice either until one day while running errands (multiple engine stops and starts) it started cranking slower and slower and eventually the battery wouldn't turn the engine over - had to get my wife to come give me a jump. Pretty sure that broken wire prevented the battery from being charged. Better fix it.
1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
The brown wire is for the GEN warning Light and should be fixed. Your local parts store should have a replacement plug with wires installed. you would splice the new plug in (make good connections)
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Duncanville, TX - USA
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
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According to the wiring diagram, the brown wire comes from a fuse link down by the starter. No "Gen" warning light on this model....just the amp gauge. It does need to be repaired,at any rate...
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
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thanks so much
Thanks for the info
Joel,
You've got me curious now. Here's the setup in my car with the offending wire. However, I don't see the brown wire on the diagram. The two reds join together in the wiring diagram, and the heavy black is obviously the ground that's shown. The brown doesn't appear in my drawing. Where does the darn thing go? I'm OCD, so I'll probably go trace it out until I figure it out...
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You've got me curious now. Here's the setup in my car with the offending wire. However, I don't see the brown wire on the diagram. The two reds join together in the wiring diagram, and the heavy black is obviously the ground that's shown. The brown doesn't appear in my drawing. Where does the darn thing go? I'm OCD, so I'll probably go trace it out until I figure it out...
"Let them that don't want none have memories of not gettin' any."
- Brother Dave Gardner
sorry I first look at my 77. Follow the wire from terminal 1 it runs to a splice point to ground. Joel would this effect operation not 100 % sure of why the ground if not hooked up to a light bulb.
I figured it out for my car, anyway.
My entire harness is from a '75 so I could eliminate the cable drive tach. I had looked at the '74 diagram on my previous post.
(On an unrelated note, the tach just died. Lots of good THAT swap did me!)
The '75 diagram shows the wire. Tracing it out, it joins to the heavy Orange wire on the ignition switch on the column... From there, the orange wire goes to the heater motor resistor. And since I have Vintage Air and not a factory fan blower, I'd guess that the brown wire is doing diddly squat (at least in my car).
And with that, gentlemen, I've officially given myself a headache.
My entire harness is from a '75 so I could eliminate the cable drive tach. I had looked at the '74 diagram on my previous post.
(On an unrelated note, the tach just died. Lots of good THAT swap did me!)
The '75 diagram shows the wire. Tracing it out, it joins to the heavy Orange wire on the ignition switch on the column... From there, the orange wire goes to the heater motor resistor. And since I have Vintage Air and not a factory fan blower, I'd guess that the brown wire is doing diddly squat (at least in my car).
And with that, gentlemen, I've officially given myself a headache.
"Let them that don't want none have memories of not gettin' any."
- Brother Dave Gardner
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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