[1980jr]

my alternator wont charge my optima, i took it to autozone and it passed TWICE! i install it and now it wont charge..also my ignition will start the car but it will not shut down the car...whats the deal guys?? no fuses are burnt.

[george kujanski]

First, what's the history...did you change anything B4 these problems started?

George

[1980jr]

well i only took the alternator wiring off the alternator to do the cam change a while back and i cant remember how it goes back, i have a wire going from the alt directly to the +battery post and i have the connecter that goes in the side its a black and red wire, also a THICk tan wire goin to who knows what from the alt.

[johnta1]

The tan wire goes to the bulkhead connecter on the firewall.
Does your choke work?
Fuse for the choke relay good?

[1980jr]

i dont hae an electric choke..though i do want to add one. also guys i have a dark green ire from the bulkhead its thin, it is not the temp. switch cause that wire is already hooked up anyone know what it is?

[johnta1]

Hmmm... most of the diagrams I have for the 1980 Firebird show an electric choke.

The brown wire should go to the tell-tale charge light then.
Does it work?

The green wire may be for the lock up converter if you have one.
Or for an A/C system.

[1980jr]

can someone provide me with a diagram for the engine of an 80 with a 400 also anyone have a diagram for the underdash harness?? thanks

[johnta1]

Might do a search on PY, maybe some here already.

Here are a couple I have.

[1980jr]

thanks john but i've discovered a new problem, if my lights are on, i cannot shut down the engine...but i've never messed with the light harness....also i still have no charge and it passed the test AGAIN! battery is a 12 volts it also passed the test

[george kujanski]

At the alt: the red wire (should be the one that goes to the battery) should go to term 2 (the right one when looking at the back of the alt.)

Term 1 should get a brown wire that goes to the idiot lite on the dash.

"No shut-down" problems with a MSD ign box are usually caused by the alt term 1 backfeeding the dash thru the idiot lite. Add a diode in the brown wire, band-end of the diode towards the alt. (Per MSD instructions)

George

[1980jr]

so then the red wire on term.2 should go to the battery + ?? i thought A red wire from the batt connector goes to the battery +

[george kujanski]

That too. the big cable is the charge cable and carries current equal to the alt rating, i.e. a 62 a alt will output 62 a thru that cable if the loads are on.

Term 2 is also connected to the battery and is the sense wire. It is usually only a 10 or 12 ga. wire. The internal regulator tries to keep this wire at 14 volts, that's why it goes right to the battery, to measure battery voltage. it draws very little current so it's connected all the time.

If I remember correctly, delco alts won't charge if this wire is not connected.

George

[1980jr]

thank you very much george i cant start it up right now its 11 over here and i dont think the neighbors will appreciate a cammed 400 idleing right now lol hahahaha but i will go and wire everything up in the morning just like you say to and i will write back to you letting you know how it goes. once again thank you very much

[1980jr]

hey thanks guys went through the wiring and now everything is great! goes right to 14 once i start the car.