• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Electrical Alternator not charging after terminator 2 install.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sfab79
  • Start date Start date Aug 24, 2025
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
First Prev 2 of 2

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Aug 31, 2025
#21
  • Aug 31, 2025
  • #21
I run a procharger,

Yes Nicky, it seems like it….. I was just talking to a friend of mine earlier which I did his Terminator X swap and we were counting how many I’ve done I think I’m at 11 or 12 of them now, and yes, I guess you could say Murphy’s Law has found me
 

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 12, 2026
#22
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • #22
Hey all thanks for all the help, unfortunately up here in Canada don’t get to drive in the winter time, ha ha so I picked up where I’ve left off and does anyone find it strange, I have my test light hooked up to the negative side of the battery And my light on the alternator body and the light lights up, which is quite strange but no wiring shorts or anything car runs, but again only getting 12 V on my terminator 2 tuner and with voltmeter at battery, even with ignition on test, light light is on when touching the alternator battery. Any suggestions?
 

Attachments

  • image.webp
    214.6 KB · Views: 19

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,050
21,218
234
Box behind Walmart
Jun 12, 2026
#23
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • #23
If the diode in the alternator is bad, it can back-feed.

Disconnect you alternator wires one-by-one and repeat your trouble-light test. The feed wire will send juice back through the alt to the chassis if the diode has failed but with the engine running, will charge like normal.

Trouble is: You have a dead battery any time it sits for any length of time.
 

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 12, 2026
#24
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • #24
Noobz347 said:
If the diode in the alternator is bad, it can back-feed.

Disconnect you alternator wires one-by-one and repeat your trouble-light test. The feed wire will send juice back through the alt to the chassis if the diode has failed but with the engine running, will charge like normal.

Trouble is: You have a dead battery any time it sits for any length of time.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much for the reply! I actually have a brand new battery in it
 

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 12, 2026
#25
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • #25
I just pulled my three wire terminal and light is not on
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,050
21,218
234
Box behind Walmart
Jun 12, 2026
#26
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • #26
Replace or rebuild
 

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 12, 2026
#27
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • #27
And also with engine running, it wasn’t charging at all either which I’m finding very quite strange. I’ve also disconnected the two wires that go to the positive post on the alternator black with orange. I did that first off and it still wasn’t charging.
 

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 12, 2026
#28
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • #28
Noobz347 said:
Replace or rebuild
Click to expand...
If I’m not mistaken, I have the same problem last year when I bought an alternator for a test and it was doing the same thing
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,050
21,218
234
Box behind Walmart
Jun 12, 2026
#29
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • #29
Sfab79 said:
If I’m not mistaken, I have the same problem last year when I bought an alternator for a test and it was doing the same thing
Click to expand...

If that is the case then you may still have a wiring short somewhere in your swap that is eating these alternators.
 

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 12, 2026
#30
  • Jun 12, 2026
  • #30
I can’t remember, though if I had the two black wires hooked up to the positive post on the alternator though when I had the new alternator in it, so looks like I’ll be buying another one
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
Founding Member
Oct 28, 2001
5,867
3,992
183
Claremore, OK
Jun 13, 2026
#31
  • Jun 13, 2026
  • #31
So I’m curious. Is this a stock alternator or did you upgrade to a 3G?
 

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 23, 2026
#32
  • Jun 23, 2026
  • #32
This is a 3G alternator, and I put a new one in today and instead of my test light being super bright like before, it’s very dim light now, but still running 11.9v, very very strange… question… peeps that are running a holy terminator to set up are you connecting your two black wires with orange tracers to the back of the alternator and to the positive side of the starter solenoid?
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
Founding Member
Oct 28, 2001
5,867
3,992
183
Claremore, OK
Jun 24, 2026
#33
  • Jun 24, 2026
  • #33
I don’t think your ECU makes one difference in how a 3G swap works. I have one on a carb setup and one on a EEC-IV setup and both are wired the same.

The two black wires cannot carry the current that the 3G puts out so you need to run a single 4 ga wire with a 125A fuse from the post on the alternator to the battery side of the original starter solenoid (not the one on the mini starter if you have one installed) or directly to the positive terminal on the battery. The rest of the wiring is pretty straight forward.

 
Reactions: General karthief

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 26, 2026
#34
  • Jun 26, 2026
  • #34
Excellent! Thank you for the help! Yes, I am not using the black wires with the orange traders. I have them taped up and disconnected. I am running the four gauge wire that is included in the 3G alternator kit from LMR, everything worked OK before I did my terminator to set up and I do have the four gauge wire going to the battery side of the OEM starter solenoid, just wondering if anyone else has the black wires with the orange tracers disconnected or hooked up to the OEM starter solenoid, as it looks like they go into fusible links
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
Founding Member
Oct 28, 2001
5,867
3,992
183
Claremore, OK
Jun 26, 2026
#35
  • Jun 26, 2026
  • #35
They don’t do anything but bring power from the alternator to the starter solenoid. I completely removed the ones out of the harnesses on my cars.

You need to verify the rest of the wiring on the alternator.
 

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 28, 2026
#36
  • Jun 28, 2026
  • #36
Right on man thanks for the help, so I did an overlay and got power to the green with the red tracer, now I have 12 V key on engine off at the D plug, but unfortunately still don’t have the battery light illuminating, when Keon engine off and I’ve also swapped lightbulbs and still nothing… is there any tests for the resistor on the cluster? Or any bypass?
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
Founding Member
Oct 28, 2001
5,867
3,992
183
Claremore, OK
Jun 28, 2026
#37
  • Jun 28, 2026
  • #37
My understanding is that the resistor is only there in case the bulb burns out. They are in parallel not series. Bulb has to be an incandescent type and not an LED. If the bulb is good it should energize the field on the alternator and work.

Have you pulled the instrument cluster and checked to see if you have power and ground on the printed circuit where the alt light is installed? Have you checked the bulb base that locks into the cluster to make sure power it getting from the tabs that contact the printed circuit to where the bulb installs?
 

Sfab79

New Member
Aug 24, 2025
23
0
1
Kamloops,bc
Jun 28, 2026
#38
  • Jun 28, 2026
  • #38
Yes, I have pulled the cluster and have 4.5 ohms across the battery light with the bulb in, I’ve also used the same bulb and socket and swapped between the seatbelt light and the battery light and the seatbelt light works with either socket or bulb, I have also checked the yellow wire at the alternator on the D plug and have 12 V on that also, have also checked the resistor on the cluster and have 4.5 ohms also, this seems to be a real head scratcher, lol
 

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
Founding Member
Oct 28, 2001
5,867
3,992
183
Claremore, OK
Jun 29, 2026
#39
  • Jun 29, 2026
  • #39
Do you have 12V up to the resistor and bulb on the cluster when you turn the key on?
 
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
First Prev 2 of 2
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Alternator not charging
  • SchwarzStock
  • Jul 6, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
63
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Yesterday at 9:21 AM
SchwarzStock
A
Resolved Electrical Help Please
  • Alabama
  • Jan 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
276
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 22, 2026
AeroCoupe
F
Alternator Not Charging
  • Fri Guy
  • Aug 29, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
7
Views
416
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Aug 31, 2025
AeroCoupe
F
Electrical From scratch: alternator wiring
  • fox racer v2
  • Jun 23, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
568
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 23, 2025
fox racer v2
F
B
Electrical No charge from 3g alternator
  • BigShowJoe
  • Nov 9, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
20
Views
1K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Nov 18, 2024
Mustang5L5
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?