MAYCO's 1982 310 TD

[mayco]

Oops, here's a pic

[mayco]

Plus I throughly cleaned and greased about a half dozen grounds in the process soooooooo that's a good thing right!

[bkahler]

Super!

Looking at a typical GM wiring diagram the brown wire is for the warning light in the dash and the red wire is the sense wire that monitors system voltage. Assuming those colors match the purpose of your alternator you just fixed the sense wire on the regulator.

I'd say you've solved the problem

Time to enjoy the rest of your trip

Brad

[mayco]

Thanks Brad

[Smartstream]

Great news Mike. It's a small world. I had a wire come loose on that plug on mine also. I would like to replace the entire connector. Brad do you have a breakdown of all the wires in that diagram? I have the same picture but as you can see it doesn't identify what the wires do, only the color which is kind of useless.

Brad on boats with two batteries you have a switch to run off either battery or both and an off position. Like this one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Perko-Batter...xWTqQi&vxp=mtr

You can see it says right on it to stop engine before switching off. You can run with a dead battery but you need the battery resistance on the alternator output. I learned the hard way.

One last thing, it's a real pain in the butt getting the alternator off the Isuzu. The bottom pivot bolt is like a three person job being in the wheel well and on top of the engine and that's after you get the vacuum pump off the back of the alternator. Maybe I'm just getting too old for all this fun.

[PeterH-350LE]

Cool dude...Rocky Mountain High..
\

[mayco]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Great news Mike. It's a small world. I had a wire come loose on that plug on mine also. I would like to replace the entire connector. Brad do you have a breakdown of all the wires in that diagram? I have the same picture but as you can see it doesn't identify what the wires do, only the color which is kind of useless.

Brad on boats with two batteries you have a switch to run off either battery or both and an off position. Like this one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Perko-Batter...xWTqQi&vxp=mtr

You can see it says right on it to stop engine before switching off. You can run with a dead battery but you need the battery resistance on the alternator output. I learned the hard way.

One last thing, it's a real pain in the butt getting the alternator off the Isuzu. The bottom pivot bolt is like a three person job being in the wheel well and on top of the engine and that's after you get the vacuum pump off the back of the alternator. Maybe I'm just getting too old for all this fun.

From looking at that alternator and its poor access and the vacuum pump attached, I was really really hoping I didn't have to change it out.......AND I sure as heck didn't want to have to put Lynn through being my helper on THAT ONE. She's one heck of a trooper but that's asking a lot.

Thanks for your input Dan.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Great news Mike. It's a small world. I had a wire come loose on that plug on mine also. I would like to replace the entire connector. Brad do you have a breakdown of all the wires in that diagram? I have the same picture but as you can see it doesn't identify what the wires do, only the color which is kind of useless.

Dan, the only wires I feel I can identify with confidence are the 3 wires going to the truck harness.

Brown - alternator warning light
Red - alternator battery voltage sense signal
Pink - Ignition switch in ignition position

The only deviation I've seen on this is the Red wire on my 74 chassis was white. It seems on all later vehicles that I've looked at have Red instead of white.

Brad on boats with two batteries you have a switch to run off either battery or both and an off position. Like this one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Perko-Batter...xWTqQi&vxp=mtr

You can see it says right on it to stop engine before switching off. You can run with a dead battery but you need the battery resistance on the alternator output. I learned the hard way.

That's funny, I removed one of those Perko battery switches and it's sitting on my shelf with all the other excess parts!

In the scenario I discussed on the Spitfire race car, the battery was dead but left in place. In other words the battery wouldn't start the car but push starting it worked and the alternator kept the car running. It's my understanding the alternator dampens the pulses coming out of the alternator.

One last thing, it's a real pain in the butt getting the alternator off the Isuzu. The bottom pivot bolt is like a three person job being in the wheel well and on top of the engine and that's after you get the vacuum pump off the back of the alternator. Maybe I'm just getting too old for all this fun.

I can sympathize with the getting old part!

Brad

[mehes]

Can't say I helped but good news in any case. Too early for a celebration beer?

[mayco]

Originally Posted by mehes

Can't say I helped but good news in any case. Too early for a celebration beer?

Gotta put it on the highway......I'm pretty sure we got it but you know how these old beasts try to beat ya down Lance! I refused to put my tester away just yet

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Dan, the only wires I feel I can identify with confidence are the 3 wires going to the truck harness.
Brown - alternator warning light
Red - alternator battery voltage sense signal
Pink - Ignition switch in ignition position
The only deviation I've seen on this is the Red wire on my 74 chassis was white. It seems on all later vehicles that I've looked at have Red instead of white.
Attachment 288350

That's what confuses me, the diesel doesn't have a warning light. The red from the ignition feeds 12V to the alternator, it won't charge unless you feed it 12V. I believe the red also provides the battery "sense" level to the regulator. With the separate regulator used on the diesel I'm just not sure how much is the same.

That's funny, I removed one of those Perko battery switches and it's sitting on my shelf with all the other excess parts!

I had a sail boat many years ago and a friend switched batteries before I could stop him and it not only did the alternator in but it fried the radio too. Spending $$$ imprints the lesson in the brain.

In the scenario I discussed on the Spitfire race car, the battery was dead but left in place. In other words the battery wouldn't start the car but push starting it worked and the alternator kept the car running. It's my understanding the alternator dampens the pulses coming out of the alternator.

Yeah you can push start a car with a dead battery and generator also, you just can't let it idle.

I can sympathize with the getting old part!
Brad

I keep trying to forget the old part.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

That's what confuses me, the diesel doesn't have a warning light. The red from the ignition feeds 12V to the alternator, it won't charge unless you feed it 12V. I believe the red also provides the battery "sense" level to the regulator. With the separate regulator used on the diesel I'm just not sure how much is the same.

The brown wire "excites" the alternator to allow it to start generating current. If the brown wire drops to zero volts the alternator will not charge. On the diesels there is likely a resistor somewhere on the brown wire between the alternator and where ever it's connected. The resistor takes the place of a light bulb. If the light bulb fails an alternator won't charge. The Red wire is what senses the actual voltage level and adjusts the alternator as needed to maintain the correct voltage level.

I had a sail boat many years ago and a friend switched batteries before I could stop him and it not only did the alternator in but it fried the radio too. Spending $$$ imprints the lesson in the brain.

Yeah you can push start a car with a dead battery and generator also, you just can't let it idle.

I don't know how long ago (mid 70s probably) a friend of mine pulled the positive battery cable on his car and it stayed running. Granted this was before vehicles had any electronics in them. I didn't think you could push start a vehicle with a generator and dead battery and get it to start. I don't think I ever tried myself.

I keep trying to forget the old part.

Yep!

[mayco]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Super!

Looking at a typical GM wiring diagram the brown wire is for the warning light in the dash and the red wire is the sense wire that monitors system voltage. Assuming those colors match the purpose of your alternator you just fixed the sense wire on the regulator.

I'd say you've solved the problem

Time to enjoy the rest of your trip

Brad

So Lynn watched the whole process as I was trying to troubleshoot this overcharging problem. She does her best to jump in and help when she can....holds the light for me, gets tools for me and such. She's a real trooper indeed. So once I found that loose wire, spliced it in and tested, I felt pretty confident that the problem was solved...well here is Lynns quote; "IF BRAD SAYS YOU FIXED IT THEN YOU FIXED IT!"

Hehehehehe, she's no dummy!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mayco

So Lynn watched the whole process as I was trying to troubleshoot this overcharging problem. She does her best to jump in and help when she can....holds the light for me, gets tools for me and such. She's a real trooper indeed. So once I found that loose wire, spliced it in and tested, I felt pretty confident that the problem was solved...well here is Lynns quote; "IF BRAD SAYS YOU FIXED IT THEN YOU FIXED IT!"

Hehehehehe, she's no dummy!

Just remember, you're taking advice from someone who's spent 10 years (so far) just trying to get his motorhome running.....

[mayco]

We are currently camped at a Boyd Lake State Park just outside of Loveland, CO. nice park, big time boaters park n lake. Super nice paths for walking and hiking, elevation right at 5000 ft. We've been here for about a week and will be headed up the mountains on tues.

[mayco]

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is our next stop, elevation 9400 ft. First driving the rig up into the mountains. Should be fun!!

[mayco]

[bobmiller1]

Boyd Lake....lol, reminds me of "butt crack" state park.....going up is one thing.....coming down is another, have fun, Regards, Bob

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by mayco

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is our next stop, elevation 9400 ft. First driving the rig up into the mountains. Should be fun!!

Reminds me of my trip to Silverton going up from Durango. After climbing and climbing there was a sign:
Molas Pass (10k') 4 miles, NO PULL OVERS
Watch the brakes going down, use a low gear.

[mayco]

Thanks Peter. Same gear coming down as going up, right?