charging

[cloptonw]

does anyone have a digram that show how to install a aftermarket charging gage and make the alternator charge mine wont charge tried every thing had alternator tested it tested good but still wont charge

[spacecadet]

1st which type of gauge? A volt meter or an Ammetter?

You said you had the alt tested, what were the results? how many volts? and what ampreage? I aks because I have seen alts 'test' OK at Autozone that did nothing when installed on a car after a 15min run time.



Does your truck have a charge light? Does it light up when the key is on?

[cloptonw]

the light be dim just can see it thatsthe reason i am trying to change it over to a volt meter

[355V8S10Tahoe]

I don't think a volt meter is going to make it charge, but for a volt meter it would have one negative wire to ground (Black) and a positive wire to power in the ignition on position (Pink/Black), that circuit is supplied from the ignition/gauges fuse...



If you have a charge light, do you know what color wire you have connected to it from the alternator? I would also check for a good ground at the alternator with a volt ohm meter set to the lowest ohm setting, test from the alternator case to engine ground or alt. case to battery negative post... The reason I suggest this is I've had problems with bad alternator grounds before and it caused a dim charge light... Painting the engine and alternator brackets sometimes causes this...



What year truck is it and what type alternator do you have? How many wires and what color are they coming out of the alternator?

[Scotty_S-15]

I just stumbled on this website. It offers the most clear and concise description of the wiring for a GM 3 wire alternator I've ever seen.



Good alternator site (http://www.hartin.com/alt.htm)



I'm wondering if you didn't somehow disable the field wire. This wire needs to be switched by the ignition switch. If it has no power, it will not charge.