CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

1988 Suburban charging issues [alternator wiring related]

chris c

Newbie
Joined
Mar 16, 2007
Posts
4
Reaction score
0
Location
new york
my 1988 suburban is not charging. i want to make sure the wiring around the alternator is working prior to stuffing a new alternator in and burning it up.

the volt gauge on the dash works and reads battery voltage but does not show charging. using a meter across the battery and from the output on the alternator shows the same. i do not believe there is a dummy light in addition.

the 2 wire clip that goes into the alternator has a brown and a faded reddish wire. the brown wire goes to L "lamp" and the reddish wire to F "field"

on some of the other GM products i have the L lead shows power when the key is on but the engine is not running. that is because it is in the dummy light circut.

on the suburban the L wire does not have power when the key is on. rather the F wire has power. is this correct? only questioning because i stated my other GM products have power @ the L wire... :confused:
 
Both should have power for the charging cycle to kick on. I'll see if I can find the thread I used to get this info.
 
cool.

anyone know where the brown and red go? i guess i could make my own dummy light system by pulling power from the fuse box, putting a bulb in and running out to the alternator just like that other guy did.

since i don't have a dummy light does the brown wire go straight from the fusebox to the alternator? or does it still come up to the ignition switch...
 
Don't know. I just ran new power for the red lead and solved the problem I had. I'm not sure where each one goes.
 

Latest Posts

Top Bottom