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

need HELP quick // alternator/solenoid/ground?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ppartain
  • Start date Start date Nov 11, 2011

ppartain

Member
Jan 7, 2009
73
0
6
Nov 11, 2011
#1
  • Nov 11, 2011
  • #1
ive installed a vortech supercharger, fuel pump, wideband, boost gauge, moates quarterhorse, electric fan. When i put my hot wire back on the battery which is in the trunk, i smoked some wires/fuses comming off the solenoid. I have the 130A 3g pa performance alternator. i swear the 2 black wires with orange stripes go to the back of the altenator and the heavy upgrade wire goes there as well. Cant find my instructions or see them online. I checked for open wires and found my 200 amp fuse was blown as well as my fusable link wire on the solenoid side of the black/orange wires. It makes no sense. I unhooked the 2 wire clips, the 2 black/orange wires, and the big upgrade wire off the altenator (no wires on it now) then pulled the fusable link wire off the hot side of the solenoid, hooked the battery back up and all is well? Car cranks and runs lights, electric fan, ect this is with the alternator out of the picture. I wouldnt think its a solenoid grounding? It spins the starter no problem. I was trying to eliminate all possibilities before pulling the altenator. Before i wired my alternator i hooked up power with no problems tested my fuel pump, new injectors (bumped fuel pump), and turned on my parking lights and tested the gauges. I wired the alternator and fan control box and have the going to ground problem. As it stands the car cranks, lights work, gauges work, electric fan works off manual switch, all without the altenator in the picture. Any advice would be appreciated.
 

Boydster

5 Year Member
Apr 10, 2011
301
20
39
Maryville, Tenn
Nov 12, 2011
#2
  • Nov 12, 2011
  • #2
Sounds like your black/orange or upgrade wires are grounding somewhere. When attached to the alternator, the terminals may have been touching the case... I know it's pretty close. You might be able to see some arcing marks if you look at em closely.

With the wires disconnected and battery disconnected, put an ohmmeter on the wires one at a time and measure to ground. Just to make sure none of them are shorted somewhere else.
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
Nov 12, 2011
#3
  • Nov 12, 2011
  • #3
And I'd probably not reuse the stock charge wires. Use one cable and circuit protection of sufficient rating for the alternator.
 

ppartain

Member
Jan 7, 2009
73
0
6
Nov 12, 2011
#4
  • Nov 12, 2011
  • #4
yea took my alternator and had it tested to rule it out, it was good. Now as for the stock charge wires the 3 littlw wires that clip into the back of the alternator do i need the black/orange wires hooked to the solenoid for the small wires to work or just leave them unhooked at the solenoid and alernator and just fasten the clips back up and hook up my big power wire?
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
Nov 12, 2011
#5
  • Nov 12, 2011
  • #5
ppartain said:
yea took my alternator and had it tested to rule it out, it was good. Now as for the stock charge wires the 3 littlw wires that clip into the back of the alternator do i need the black/orange wires hooked to the solenoid for the small wires to work or just leave them unhooked at the solenoid and alernator and just fasten the clips back up and hook up my big power wire?
Click to expand...

Leave them connected at the solenoid, or if wanting to remove the stock charge wires, remove the sense portion of the wiring and connect it directly to the solenoid.
 

Blown88GT

Founding Member
Nov 13, 1999
2,283
524
164
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Nov 12, 2011
#6
  • Nov 12, 2011
  • #6
 

Attachments

  • EVTM_p012a.webp
    102.7 KB · Views: 174

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
Nov 12, 2011
#7
  • Nov 12, 2011
  • #7
Stangnet 3G install sticky http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/646825-3g-alternator-install-how.html#post6673702

Alternator wiring


Starter solenoid wiring 86-91 model cars
Connect the fused 4 gauge wire to the alternator and the battery side of the starter solenoid.


Starter solenoid wiring 92-93 Model cars.
 

ppartain

Member
Jan 7, 2009
73
0
6
Nov 12, 2011
#8
  • Nov 12, 2011
  • #8
thanks for everybody's help. i left everything hooked up except i taped up both black/orange wires at the alternator and left them unhooked and everything is back to normal but i still dont understand what went wrong because it was hooked up like that for the last 2 years. very god info and awesome write ups by the way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Electrical HELP! 1989 5.0 Stick, Voltage Bleed onto Ignition Trigger wire
  • ChickenDeluxe
  • May 14, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
7
Views
178
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 24, 2026
ChickenDeluxe
C
Electrical Ron Francis Headlight / Alternator Harness
  • dan50
  • Apr 30, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
184
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 30, 2026
dan50
F
Electrical From scratch: alternator wiring
  • fox racer v2
  • Jun 23, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
547
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 23, 2025
fox racer v2
F
3
Electric water pump wiring
  • 387lx
  • Feb 10, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
182
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Feb 11, 2026
90trunk
Electrical Inaccessible starter solenoid from wire tuck, what are my options for an alternator upgrade?
  • AnthonyA1234
  • Jan 16, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
17
Views
922
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 8, 2025
Mindseye007
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?