Alternator upgrade...Please help

[Rif]

Here is a picture of the alternator. It is a Duralast from Autozone for an 82 ZX.

Here are the instructions that came with the MSA adapter plug.

Here is a picture of the wire coming out of the alternator.

Question #1- Step 8 on instructions says to connect the black wire to the case mount marked "e". I just don't want to assume anything here.

Question #2- Connect white/red wire to post marked "b"...

I think I got the socket thing figured out but...

Question #3- What do I do with that yellow wire with the plug on the end of it?

Edited August 9, 2014 by Rif

[SteveJ]

1. E=Earth=Ground. Typical DC wiring conventions use wire with solid black insulation for circuits connected to ground. Remove the bolt above the E. Slide the ring connected to the black wire over the bolt and put the bolt back.

2. BAT=B. The White/Red wire goes to the battery.

3. Plug it into the T socket on the alternator.

[Rif]

1. E=Earth=Ground. Typical DC wiring conventions use wire with solid black insulation for circuits connected to ground. Remove the bolt above the E. Slide the ring connected to the black wire over the bolt and put the bolt back.

2. BAT=B. The White/Red wire goes to the battery.

3. Plug it into the T socket on the alternator.

#3-It doesn't fit into the "T" socket Steve.?

[SteveJ]

Show a picture of the wire and connector in the engine bay.

[Zed Head]

He's talking about the yellow wire coming out of the alternator itself. You can see it lower left in all of the pictures.

I think that might be the "P" wire, it's in the general location that the P stud would be. Some cars use it for a tach signal for other ECU operations. Odd that they would put a plug on the wire but the rebuilders probably use the same guts for many different bodies. It won't be used in your case. Check the instructions that came with the alternator and se if they show a P wire.

Make sure that you insulate the plug. OR, return it and get one that doesn't have it. It's extra.

[Rif]

He's talking about the yellow wire coming out of the alternator itself. You can see it lower left in all of the pictures.

I think that might be the "P" wire, it's in the general location that the P stud would be. Some cars use it for a tach signal for other ECU operations. Odd that they would put a plug on the wire but the rebuilders probably use the same guts for many different bodies. It won't be used in your case. Check the instructions that came with the alternator and se if they show a P wire.

Make sure that you insulate the plug. OR, return it and get one that doesn't have it. It's extra.

Zed Head is the MAN!!! Just got off the phone with tech support for Duralast (they finally answered the phone). It is the "P" terminal. I asked if I could open the unit to remove the wire but that is a no-no and would void the warranty. Looks like a job for elec. tape. Thanks for the help.

[Zed Head]

No problem. You probably just want to zip tie the plug to the back of the alternator with the plug angled down. Tape might hold dust/dirt and moisture. Drained and dry is what you want. I blew a fuse on an a car after the trailer light's plug got dirty and wet. Eventually there was enough conductivity to short.

I don't know if the P terminal passes much current anyway.

[siteunseen]

So where does the plug from MSA go?

[Zed Head]

It goes on the old external voltage regulator plug. It jumps the proper wires and also has a diode to keep the engine from running when the key is turned off.