Big 3 - No terminal on alternator?

[scoob8000 10+ year member]

So I've been slowly putting a little system in my beater (88' Ranger, 2.9l).

It's about time to do some upgraded underhood wiring, but wait. There's no terminal on the alternator? Are you serious?

The heaviest wire on the alternator is probably 10-12ga, and runs back to the firewall and into the cab from what it looks like.

Am I missing something here, or did Ford really do something so stupid?

Click to read more...

 

[Cabin_Pressure 10+ year member]

The positive has a terminal with a ~2awg wire, for the negative just land a ground under a mounting bolt and go to the frame. The case of the alt is the ground.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

pic of the alt? there has to be a pos output wire or you don't have the alternator

 

[Cabin_Pressure 10+ year member]

He was seeing the regulator harness, i believe.

 

[scoob8000 10+ year member]

I didn't remove the alternator, but from what I can see and feel there are no lugs on the backside.

There is a plug towards the bottom with 3 wires (runs to the firewall mentioned above) and another plug on the top with two more smaller wires in it).

There are only 3 wires tied to the battery + too. One heavy one for the starter and two smaller 10-12ga wires with fusable links in them.

I'll see if I can snap some pics tomorrow in the light..

 

[Cabin_Pressure 10+ year member]

That may be one of Fords famous "fire hazard" alt plugs. I believe they were around the mid to late 80s. Do a search on them.

 

[scoob8000 10+ year member]

Oh my! Ford really did do something this retarded:

I'm very shocked I don't have any light dimming with all my electrical load. (80/100watt headlights, 55watt driving lights, electric fan, and now an amp)..

My beefed up headlight harness has a heavier wire than the alternator! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[1rockford1 5,000+ posts]

yea ford has been known for there cheap *** stock wires. 1/0 ga will do wonders under the hood bro

 

[scoob8000 10+ year member]

yea ford has been known for there cheap *** stock wires. 1/0 ga will do wonders under the hood bro

Problem is there is nothing to connect it to on that crap alternator. :/

It's my beater, so I'm not going all out with an alternator swap unless I can find a newer one in the boneyard that'll fit.

 

[pentavolvo 10+ year member]

typical ford alt, can prly bolt in a newer model ford 3g alternator

 

[CadillacMatt 10+ year member]

j/k lol I had to... you're sure there's no other wires out of sight?

 

[scoob8000 10+ year member]

Pretty sure. I'm a chevy guy, kinda ironic I have a ford for a beater. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Cabin_Pressure 10+ year member]

Pretty sure. I'm a chevy guy, kinda ironic I have a ford for a beater. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

You're right, i had that alt on a '90 mustang. That design was so bad that when you bought a new alt they gave you a new harness end to install.

 

[Joseph K 10+ year member]

Find an alt that will be a direct swap that actually has terminals on it... I'm sure they made some that do and would be a direct fit.

 

[loopkiller 10+ year member]

Why does everyone assume that the factory POS+ wire from the alt is not good enough? If you have a stock alt, don't you think that Ford used a wire that was capable of handling the max output of your stock alt? The only time you need to upgrade the stock POS+ charge wire is if you upgrade your alt to something bigger than the factory alt. If your alt output exceedes the rated output, the fuse in the under hood block will pop before the wire will burn fyi.