Alternator wiring problems

I just aquired a 1973 cj5 from a friend. My friend had the body redone and the wiring is supposed to be all new too. As my husband drove this beast from NY to Missouri it broke down several times. When he finally got it home we quickly realized that the wiring was totally messed up and the jackhole that did it didn't bother to hook up everything (very surprised it even made it). We had to tear all the wiring out and start over. We are using the wiring harness it has since it is new (Painless wiring harness) and we have realized that the jackhole cut a lot of things off the new harness. We have managed to get most of it done through trial and error and the many wiring diagrams we have. The problem we are having is with the alternator/regulator system. We have hooked up everything the way the painless wiring harness instuctions/jeep tech service manual has said but the alternator isn't charging when the ignition is on. We had to put a voltage regulator in the jeep when we got it home because it didn't have one in it (causing some battery problems along the way). Replaced the battery, alternator (motorola), regulator, coil, points. None of the original wiring for the charging system was there. The voltage regulator has four wires (black, green, yellow, orange) but no markings to what they go to on the alternator (Kind of know by the jeep tech service manual but not completely sure). The painless instructions has an exciter wire that hooks into the regulator. If anyone can give us a rundown of how this all hooks together that would be great. And if I ever meet the jackhole who said they rewired it I will kick his ***!!!!

 

i completly agree with mike on this, ditch that alt for a one wire... much simplier, and in my eyes is a very good upgrade

 

Boyink, do you have a part number for the alternator you bought?

 

Mad Electric has a good write-up on 1-wire v. 3-wire Delco alternators.
http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/onewire-threewire.shtml

 

Would like to thank everyone for the info but I think we are going to try to get the system working we have. If anyone knows the voltage regulator wire colors that would be great. Right now we think black/ground,green/field,orange and yellow/exciter.

 

when I rewired my jeep, I spent days trying to figure out where those wires go. Sucks that they arn't labeled, I feel your pain. I think I tried every combination and a new regulator, and no matter what I did, I couldn't get it to run under 17 volts. This was some serious concentration and brainstorming that went on during these couple days. I was ****ed when I found out that for 40 bucks (twice the price of the regulator), I could get a lifetime guarenteed, simple, reliable alternator. The old motorola alternator is still sitting on my shelf, waiting to be turned into a fender mounted, onboard welder...very easy to do with an alternator that isn't internally regulated.

 

The GM internal?

 

Yes, no external regulator to deal with.

 

When I re-wired my 71 I too followed the Painless diagram and no luck. Once I grounded the battery to the block, then at the same point the block to the frame, and the body to the frame I had no problems and mine fired up. You may also want to go into Painless web site and look at the wire harness installation instructions for part #10105 & #10106. You can print out the entire book.

 

Well its charging now!!! I exchanged my alt for a delco, folks at the parts store were being nice or feeling sorry for me. and onto some coffee. Thanks again for everyones help.

 

Do you know the Delco part # ( my parts store always asks)

 

will get it to you when I get home tonight