82 Electrical question
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Green Bay Wisconsin
82 Electrical question
I have been having battery charging, among other, issues so in poking around with the multi-meter I have found that the red wire from the back of the alternator is grounded out. When I attach the meter to that lead and any ground or bare metal there is zero resistance.
Silly question, but this is not what it supposed to happen, correct?
I don't seem to be able to trace where it goes.
The service manual makes it look like it heads to the starter solenoid where it meets up with the battery cable.
Silly question, but this is not what it supposed to happen, correct?
I don't seem to be able to trace where it goes.
The service manual makes it look like it heads to the starter solenoid where it meets up with the battery cable.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 316
Likes: 39
From: Machesney Park IL
an ohmmeter is not intended for checking live wires. It would be used on a unpowered circuit to check continuity, so you have the right idea, wrong application. If the alternator wire were grounded, I imagine it would blow a fusable link, or possibly burn the wiring up.
If your battery cables and alternator connections are clean and tight, not knowing what tools you have, I would run it to the parts store for a free charging system test. I would want to know alternator output under load in amps, and the condition of the battery. That would give you a starting point for further testing.
If your battery cables and alternator connections are clean and tight, not knowing what tools you have, I would run it to the parts store for a free charging system test. I would want to know alternator output under load in amps, and the condition of the battery. That would give you a starting point for further testing.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Green Bay Wisconsin
Sorry. Don't think my post was clear.
The battery is out of the car. I have been seeing voltage irregularities among other things while driving and connected to winALDL. The alternator is out and ready to be tested.
I was just looking for broken or corroded wires.
I am just looking for help tracing that wire to look for a short
The battery is out of the car. I have been seeing voltage irregularities among other things while driving and connected to winALDL. The alternator is out and ready to be tested.
I was just looking for broken or corroded wires.
I am just looking for help tracing that wire to look for a short
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Green Bay Wisconsin
more info
Sorry. Don't think my post was clear.
The battery is out of the car. I have been seeing voltage irregularities among other things while driving and connected to winALDL. The alternator is out and ready to be tested.
I was just looking for broken or corroded wires.
I am just looking for help tracing that wire to look for a short
The battery is out of the car. I have been seeing voltage irregularities among other things while driving and connected to winALDL. The alternator is out and ready to be tested.
I was just looking for broken or corroded wires.
I am just looking for help tracing that wire to look for a short
-the ALT is putting out around 50v while running....not amps... VOLTS (yikes)
- The reading at the battery while running will max out at 12.1v
-I tried to verify with my timing light...it reads volts as well and it jumped from 17-5v at the alternator.
-winALDL is showing a reading of around 6v or around 18v
Last edited by icpr4u; Sep 10, 2016 at 12:53 AM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 316
Likes: 39
From: Machesney Park IL
Found an online wiring diagram, and I can't be much help. Looks like any wire with red, and power, is connected to this. alternator, starter, high blower....
I have never seen 50 volts, 15 is normally too high. At 50, I would suspect the internal voltage regulater. And yet, how can the single red output wire at the alternater show 50 volts, and the battery 12.1, when the diagram indicates this is the same wire? Fusable link good?
I have never seen 50 volts, 15 is normally too high. At 50, I would suspect the internal voltage regulater. And yet, how can the single red output wire at the alternater show 50 volts, and the battery 12.1, when the diagram indicates this is the same wire? Fusable link good?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 56
Likes: 2
From: Green Bay Wisconsin
I suspect that I may have had the meter in the wrong setting.
I believe the fusible link to be good.
i'm chasing another electrical short. once I get that sorted out i'll report back my findings on the ALT issue
Last edited by icpr4u; Sep 11, 2016 at 12:39 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Check the 2 wire plug that goes in the side of the alternator. 1 of the 2 wires comes from one side of the GEN light bulb. If you ground that wire the gen light should come on if the key is on. That will tell that circuit is working. Should be a brown wire I think. The other small wire should be red and have battery voltage all the time, it comes from one of the fuse links at the starter. I suspect that IF you are really getting 50 volts out of the laternator you have a problem with the red small red wire
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski