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Ok. Checked the alternator FAQs. My first questiin is about the ground wire connector. It shows on the picture that the wire goes to one of the long bolts holding the housing of the alternator together. At least thats how it looks on the picture. I cant connect it there because the bolt doesnt let me screw or attach anything to that end. And its not long.enough to let me put a nut on the back of it. Any other place to hook up the ground on the alternator?

And number two. It says that if your alternator light is not turning on when you turn the key, that might be a problem too. Mine says "gener." is that the one? Anybody with similar issues that figured this thing out already? Thanks

Yes，that's the light.

You can ground your alternator from anywhere on the cover really. Whatever's convenient.

Falkenberg wrote:Does the alternator light come on?

the closest thing to alt on my dash i guess is "gener." and if thats it. No. Its not lighting :/

KenB wrote:

Danval wrote:The alternator guy said he freshened it up. He took care of my starter and its been working fine ever since. Ill take a look at what you guys are telling me. Thanks

He gave it a shower and slapped on some aftershave lotion?

No wonder.

lol!!! I hope not :/

KenB wrote:Yes，that's the light.

You can ground your alternator from anywhere on the cover really. Whatever's convenient.

ok. I tryed to reach those wires and cant seem to get to them. Do i need to pull out the cluster or am i overseeing something?

Danval wrote:ok, quick question. On the left side of the little black box, behind the alternator. My ground wire is connected to that phillips screw holding the little box to the alternator. Is that correct?

OK, if your alternator looks exactly like the one in the picture, or is the one in the picture, you don't need to worry about a ground. That one isn't rubber mounted. Some years
aren't, I don't recall which. But if it is rubber mounted, meaning a sleeve, with rubber around it, which is pressed into the alternator body, you do need it grounded. This isn't a very good picture, but this is a rubber mounted one.



Remove the field wire, the small one, and ground it to the body or engine. Does the gen light come on? Report back.

Ok. Pulled the cluster out and pulled the bulb out too. The bulb is fine. The cluster connectors are messed up. Is there a way of connecting the two wires together to make sure thats causing the proble? Also. Is there a wiring diagram somewhere so i can figure out other stuff? Thanks again

I have a factory wiring diagram book of the E21 and E12 for sale.

Danval wrote:

Falkenberg wrote:Does the alternator light come on?

the closest thing to alt on my dash i guess is "gener." and if thats it. No. Its not lighting :/

So the "gener" light is not coming on when you move the key to ignition? That is a problem.

Electrics are detailed also in the owner's manual that came with the car - if it is still there.

Mike W. wrote: Remove the field wire, the small one, and ground it to the body or engine. Does the gen light come on? Report back.

Good suggestion. Did you try that? With contact key on ignition, of course. ps. Field wire, not the thick 12V from the battery!

Falkenberg wrote:

Mike W. wrote: Remove the field wire, the small one, and ground it to the body or engine. Does the gen light come on? Report back.

Good suggestion. Did you try that? With contact key on ignition, of course. ps. Field wire, not the thick 12V from the battery!

which one is the field? My alt has a plug with some wires coming out. A ground (that goes to the block) and the thick "live" cable. Which one is the field?

There should be a third wire, female spate connector I believe. You can see the male connector on the alternator in the picture above in an earlier post, there is a D+ mark near. That is what is referred to as the field connection, although I believe that is not technically very correct.

Falkenberg wrote:There should be a third wire, female spate connector I believe. You can see the male connector on the alternator in the picture above in an earlier post, there is a D+ mark near. That is what is referred to as the field connection, although I believe that is not technically very correct.

ok. i see it. but thats actually the plug that i was metioning. Its a plug with a couple of wires.

I haven't read anything about the voltage regulator yet. Have you replaced it? It's the part which is fastened to the alternator with 2 screws with white Bosch letters. I've come across a similar situation on an E28 and installed a new regulator = problem solved. I hope it's that simple in your case too.

Eddie in TO wrote:

I haven't read anything about the voltage regulator yet. Have you replaced it? It's the part which is fastened to the alternator with 2 screws with white Bosch letters. I've come across a similar situation on an E28 and installed a new regulator = problem solved. I hope it's that simple in your case too.

no. I sent the alt to get rebuilt and refreshed. I assume the guy took care of this. Again, I found a faulty connector behind the cluster, right where the "gener" bulb goes. My question is can I try to close the circuit by jumping the bulb cables and try the car like that?