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Cs144 swap strange issue (solved)

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Kens04Taco, Oct 21, 2018.

  1. Oct 21, 2018 at 12:59 AM
    #1
    Kens04Taco

    Kens04Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    hey guys so I finished my cs144 swap today and everything seemed fine. I got in the truck to take my girlfriend to the movies and on the way to pick her up I noticed the voltage dropping slightly when I let off the throttle. Which isn’t normal for me. So for example on the gas I’m at 14.3 then it would drop to 13.6.
    Parked the truck at the movie theater and got back in and now if I let off the gas the voltage drops in a hurry to 12volts and starts to sputter and want to die. The Rpms drop a lot during this. If I tap the throttle the volts Almost instantly jump to back to 14.3

    Now here’s the deal. I wired the large red wire with a ring terminal to the positive post on the back of the alternator like other right ups said. The only other wire I used was connecting the brown wire from the GM pigtail to my yellow wire which is the alt warning light.

    I’m thinking it’s either the belt slipping at low rpm and I need to tighten it. Or I noticed similar symtoms like this before after leaving my battery out of my truck for prolonged periods of time. Can any of you please chime in as to what your guesses could be?
     
  2. Oct 21, 2018 at 1:01 AM
    #2
    mechanicjon

    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    You only hooked up 2 wires? Usually you hook up all three wires. I used an adapter plug available from Amazon or ebay and it works fine.
     
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  3. Oct 21, 2018 at 1:03 AM
    #3
    Kens04Taco

    Kens04Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The write up I saw said you hook up the large positive red wire to the back of the alt and the brown to the yellow (idiot light): now I’m feeling like I missed something or this was for a earlier Tacoma. ><
     
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  4. Oct 21, 2018 at 1:05 AM
    #4
    mechanicjon

    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    Here's the diagram. It shows the white to battery and the red to a ign switched power source and yellow to the light.
     

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  5. Oct 21, 2018 at 1:07 AM
    #5
    mechanicjon

    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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  6. Oct 21, 2018 at 1:11 AM
    #6
    Kens04Taco

    Kens04Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Coming out of my factory connector was a pinkish wire (assuming red) a yellow and white wire.

    The GM pigtail has red black and brown.

    Maybe I can just see the alignment from that adaptor so I can just line them up that way
     
  7. Oct 21, 2018 at 1:22 AM
    #7
    mechanicjon

    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    colors may not be the same but the plug position should be. cs144.jpg
     
  8. Oct 21, 2018 at 1:22 AM
    #8
    Kens04Taco

    Kens04Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ugh I hope I didn’t fuck this alternator up. I’m gonna rewire the connection tomorrow and hopefully fix it
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2018
  9. Oct 21, 2018 at 1:23 AM
    #9
    mechanicjon

    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    They're pretty tuff alternators.
     
  10. Oct 21, 2018 at 1:24 AM
    #10
    Kens04Taco

    Kens04Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for pulling that for me I’m gonna rewire it tomorrow. I just hope I didn’t burn something internally. I didn’t get any reason to think I did besides the voltage drops but I bet u it’s because I don’t have the sense wire hoked up
     
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  11. Oct 21, 2018 at 6:43 AM
    #11
    nzbrock

    nzbrock Well-Known Member

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    The red wire is the "sense" wire that tells the alternator how much "power" to put out. Without that hooked up, it was probably just putting out voltages based on rpm. That would explain the symptoms you were experiencing.
     
  12. Oct 21, 2018 at 2:51 PM
    #12
    Kens04Taco

    Kens04Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Welp I changed the wires and everything seemed fine. Went for a drive and the alternator light started to flicker and volts we’re jumping around. Pulled over and climbed under the truck.

    The alternator post/stud on the rear of the alternator has basically pulled out and is just wobbling in there. I called orileys and they won’t have a replacement till Tuesday. So I basically patched it so it’ll run but I’m not thrilled about all this. But hey w/e shit happens
     
  13. Oct 21, 2018 at 8:41 PM
    #13
    Kens04Taco

    Kens04Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    after some research I've determined that the battery post is bolted to the bridge rectifier with a nut. Well it would seem that the guy who rebuilt my alt decided fuck it when it came to tightening the nut. So anyways...just thought Id add this to the thread for info purposes.
     
  14. Oct 22, 2018 at 2:07 AM
    #14
    mechanicjon

    mechanicjon They call me "Jonny Stubs"

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    Glad you got the wiring straightened out.:thumbsup: Now just need to give the monkeys more bananas that rebuilt the alternator. :rofl:
     
  15. Oct 23, 2018 at 12:49 PM
    #15
    Kens04Taco

    Kens04Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So I got the alternator swapped on warranty and the second alternator was a much better alternator. I guess they rebuild Delphi and ac Delco. The ac Delco has much better hardware and components it looks like. Mounted it and tightened up the belt.

    She’s purrn like a kitten now. Consistent voltage and no issues. Happy I got it all together :) thanks for the help guys

    @nzbrock
     
  16. Oct 23, 2018 at 1:12 PM
    #16
    Russianman92

    Russianman92 Well-Known Member

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    That's great!

    Last time I saw an alternator post loose it was at a race track when the driver complained of loss of power. I tested the alternator and noticed the post was loose and while I was moving it it blew the Main 50amp fuse for the entire car. Glad it didn't happen to you. Apparently the guy before me tightened up the nut on the alternator using he-man strength and the metal strap on the inside broke and finally disconnected on the track. The battery died over time on the track and when I messed with the wire the piece of broken strap shorted on the inside of the casing.

    Lesson: Don't over tighten the nut on the alternator.
     
  17. Oct 23, 2018 at 1:15 PM
    #17
    Kens04Taco

    Kens04Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah I can see that happening and that sucks on a track day. I don’t think I over tightened the first one but hey I’m human I could have fucked up. That’s good info though thanks for it
     
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