I bought an alternator today from partco, they done it by car reg plate and its the higher amp 70amp one for rs turbo. Anyway, i get it and find it has 3 connections on it for ring terminals to go onto, the 2 near each other, one bigger than the other which the 2 ring terminals of my wiring loom go to but then theres another one on the alternator. Does anybody know what this would be for, anyone come across the same problem? I wondered if its for a earth strap to go from to the inner wing or something.

cheers

 

IIRC the 3rd terminal is for use with a tacho that has the alternator output as the driver - in your case, no need to connect it up.

Earthing is done via the alternator case on the engine itself so thats that one cured - connect that other terminal to earth and you'll fry the alternator.

 

Thanks mate, thats good to hear. I saw the 3rd terminal and thought oh no theres a 3rd wire somewhere in that loom that i spent ages rewrapping at the weekend lol, and whats worse that looms now all clipped/held back along the bottom panel with the rad and intercooler now put in lol. Would of been a nightmare, so im going to go along with your theory lol, cheers mate