I'm replacing my alternator with a 130amp. I replaced the wire going from the alternator to the side of the fuse in the fuse box under the hood. I left the original wire inside the factory harness but cut the ends off and wrapped them with tape. I went to start the truck and it wont turn over at all. The head lights work and that's it.The dash only shows the charge light and 4wd light. I have also checked all the fuses under the hood and under the dash and they checked out OK. Am I over looking something or am I forgetting something? The truck started and ran fine yesterday.

Edit: I have not replaced the alternator yet only the wire. I also replaced the 100amp fuse with a 120 amp fuse.

 

I know this may sound stupid, but did you check the battery connections to make sure they're on tight?

 

Ya I also hooked my F150 up to it to jump it cause I thought maybe the battery was dead for what ever reason and still nothing.

 

Hmm, i guess take a multimeter to your connections and see if everything is getting proper power.

 

just checked that also. Battery has 12.7v DC and I have power on both sides of the new fuse I put in.

What I don't understand is why the truck wont turn over. I highly doubt the starter is bad.

 

Hmm, well i know a lot of the time the power wire gets pulled out of the starter, give it a check.

 

After looking into it further. The coolant hose that is above the alternator is leaking on the old alternator. I wonder if that has something to do with my problem. I'm going to replace it tomorrow and swap out the old alternator and see what happens.

 

It's worth a shot. I'll see if i can't think of something else. Sorry i can't help more.

 

It's no big deal is has to be something easy to fix. It worked before I put this new wire on and it looks like the coolant has made its way into the alternator. I still don't know why that would cause my problem but I bet it's the culprit.

 

yeah at least you have an idea.

 

I replaced the hose that was leaking and put in the new alternator this morning. I'm still having the same problem. Anyone got any ideas? Dash lights still do not work. But the charge light and 4wd light are still on and the head lights work highs and lows. I might pull the starter out and get it tested.

 

one more question.

If I have enough power in my battery shouldn't the truck start even if the alternator was dead?

 

yes. you must have a bad connection. did you disconnect the battery before changing the wire? i assume you did if not maybe that caused some problems.

 

I had the starter tested and it checked out OK.

Toyrunnerns: I will admit I have been forgetting to disconnect the battery while I'm trouble shooting things. At this point I'm just gonna have to figure out were the wire or loose connection is.

 

Yep, in fact until the engine is started, the alternator is not even doing anything.

First step is to see if you are getting power to the starter solenoid:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...shtml#EasyTest

 

I think I found my problem in the harness that held my original alternator wire. The wire has two wires sliced into. Anyone know what these wires go to?

 

I hooked those to wires up to the other side of the fuse that connects to the alternator wire and it now works but I'm not sure what the wires are or were they are supposed to go to. Here are some pictures or were the end up in the fuse block under the hood.

This wire ends at the AM1 40amp fuse


This wire ends at the black plug in the fuse black plug in the fuse block