Billinsd

Hi, I did some searching and found some info. Most was on replacing the three wires.

I have a 2002, 3.4 liter tacoma and am upgrading the alternator to around 160 amps or so.

Can I add another say 8 gauge wire from the alternator to the battery with a fuse in the wire?

I could also replace the existing wire from the alternator to the battery, however, would I have to splice in other wires that are connected to the exsiting wire from the alternator? Is this wire from the alternator to the battery go through a fuse box?

Thanks in advance.
Bill

ShortyzKustomz

I know when I put a 170 amp load boss on my 22re, they said you needed to run 4 ga or bigger, But I ran 2 ga all the way back to the bed where my battery is

Billinsd

Thanks for the info. I took a couple of photos for clarity. The battery is very close to the alternator.

Thanks
Bill

Billinsd

Here are some more photos. The first photo is of the three wire harness and the white positive from the alternator. The second photo is where that white wire exits the fuse box. The third photo is where that white wire connects in the engine fuse box. What is that, that it connects to with the nut? A fuseable link? It says >PA66< SAE PA66, what does that mean? Would I need to upgrade this?

Can I replace the wire in the second photo that exits the fuse box and if so how would I pull it out and place a larger one in?

Thanks
Bill

mt_goat

If you unbolt the fuse box from the fender and turn it upside down you should see where the wire goes in and connects up. You might have to enlarge the opening some for the wire to fit.

You can replace the factory wiring with bigger cable, or do like I did, and just piggy back another wire in parallel and basically double it up. IIRC two 8 gauge should be about equal to one 4 gauge.

Billinsd

Thanks, I see what you mean. It is difficult to turn upside down with all the wires. It looks like the fuse box is supposed to come apart, but I can't figure out how to take it apart. Here is another photo. The red is the part I thought was a fuse, but it looks more like just plastic and there is a metal strip that runs down from where the wire connects to the nut, see the blue circle. The fuse for the alternator is 120 amps and is circled in blue.

Thanks
Bill

Billinsd

I see now, I looked and found that white wire connected to the 120 amp alternator fuse. I took a photo of it and painted it red. It is dusty and dirty and I did not see it before!!!

I see now, so I either need to replace that wire and the one to the alternator with a big one or add one in parallel like Mt Goat did.

I just need to find the wire and the fittings.
Thanks
Bill

Billinsd

Oh, and also that Alternator Amp fuse is 120 amps and if my new alternator puts out 160 amps would it break the fuse? So, should I get a 160 amp or so fuse?
Thanks I think I almost got it covered!!!!
Bill