red alternator wire

alright you tacoma enthusiast me again. on the alternator 3 prong connection there is the white, red, and yellow wire the White one has power all the time power with the key on and the yellow wire Is supposed to have power when you ground out the alternator but with my key on the red wire does not have power so what does that little red wire trace back too?

 

The white wire should have power all the time, red is the ignition feed and should have power with the key on, and yellow is for the light (alternator grounds this wire to turn the light on).

 

what would make the red wire not have power when i turn the key on

 

Blown gauge fuse (if your gauges and warning lights work its good) or a broken wire or bad connection between the fuse box and alternator.

 

so half of my warning lights turn on when i turn the key what do you think it could be

 

Check for power on both sides of the gauge fuse, if you have power on both sides you have a broken wire somewhere.

 

okay i’ll do that when i get home

 

i’m running about 0.03 volts on both sides of the fuse

 

That's interesting, are you sure you had a good ground on your meter? Are you check engine and oil pressure lights on with the key on and do your turn signals work?

 

yes my oil pressure and check engine light is on when I turn the key on and turn signals and hazards work

 

I'm not sure how your getting 0.03 v on your meter at the gauge fuse then because it powers those 2 lights, are you sure you have a good ground and your meter is set to 20v dc?

 

it is only reading .05 on one side now I had a bad ground but right now it is charging when I am jumping the red wire with a wire I don’t know how to trace the wire back to wherever it could be i’m only 14

 

I just plugged my gauge cluster back in from looking at the bulb and now it’s not reading rpm or turn signals or highbeam

 

Sounds like you missed something when plugging it back in or theres a bent pin on the plug.

I'd replace the gauge fuse just to 100% rule that out, if that's not it you have to inspect your wiring, start with areas that look like they may be rubbing on something.

 

Well to be honest I forgot to 10 amp fuse but I replaced it and everything is good but it’s still not charging itself without the jumper wire