Any help of redirection to old post would be appreciated.
1981 Toyota pickup I thought my alternator was going bad due to battery not charging(new battery) changed the alternator and was checking voltage everything seemed fine but after running for about 45 seconds-1 minute the black wire from the alternator plug began to smoke, so i disconnected battery and shut off the truck. I was assuming the wire was shorting out some where but have traced it back to the firewall and not found anything yet. I did notice this only happens when the voltage regulator is plugged in, could this perhaps be bad and is there any way of testing it without it running? Thanks

 

Is the new alternator bad ??

What kind of voltage did you have with the old alternator??

I take it you don`t have the EWD for your truck I don`t have anything that old

Having the schematics would tell me how to test the regulator. .

 

The 84 and older trucks have an external voltage regulator. I forget where it is mounted but I think it is a black metal box if I remember right. Wonder if it the part failing.

 

It does have an external voltage regulator. I replaced it about a year ago. I opened it up and compared it to the old one and it looks fine. The old one had a burnt out wire on one of the coils. If the new one were bad I would assume it would look similar to that one? In regards to the old alternator I didn't check it but looking back I don't think that was the problem. I believe something is shorting out some where