Cable comming out of altenator?

[SHOBiz]

Whats the cable comming out of the top of the altenator for? I noticed it was a bit loose so i pushed it in and the engine reved down under a new load. I pulled it out again and noticed the plug was filled with what looks like vasaline.
Im not sure wether the previous owner put that in there to help hold it in or to break the connection with out having to leave it unplugged..



Mark

 

[BlackOnBlackATX]

the cable with the harness on top of the alternator is probably the charging system sensor wire, and it also most likely carries info to the armature inside about how much load is needed.

the grease may have been conductive grease which does help hold it and conducts electricity. i would clean it out with a qtip or something similiar and maybe buy some new grease and reapply it so you know for sure what it is. if the connection had been broken your battery light would have been coming on like crazy. which im assuming didnt happen since you didnt mention it.

i would also suggest since you heard a change in revving characteristics take it out and have it tested, or at the least have your battery tested (this can be done in the car, so its not too bad) good luck.

<small>[ January 15, 2003, 12:33 PM: Message edited by: BlackOnBlackATX ]</small>

 

[SHOBiz]

Thanks for the info man. I'll check it out now.

Mark

 

[rangerj]

SHOBIZ,

Unless you are sure whether, or not, that the grease is dielectric grease, or not, leave it alone.

Dielectric grease will not conduct electricity. It is often used to coat an electrical connection to keep it from corroding.

Ordinary grease will conduct electricity, and if used in the wrong place will cause current to be shorted between wires or their connectors.

The wire you are talking about is most likely the wire that carries electricity to recharge the battery, and provides power for the electrical system. Without it, the car will run off of the battery, until it is drained.

If your alternator light is not coming on when the wire is disconnected, you may have a burned out bulb behind the alternator warning light.

Disconnecting and reconnecting wires, when you do not know what they are or what they do, is not a good idea. This is especially true in computer controlled cars. You could ruin the computer with a power surge.

You may want to become familiar with the cars electrical system and its components before you work on it! It could save you a lot of time and $$$$$. rangerj

 

[sdpatt]

Are you referring to the plug that snaps into the alternator or the single wire that is attaced with a 10mm nut? The single wire is the 12V power supply to the alternator and the multiwire plug carries the rectified and regulated output. The clear grease was most likely dielectric grease and is a good idea. Leave it be.