Alternator Wiring

[SVXer95]

Was just wondering if this has happened to anyone else.

Tonight I saw that my voltage was running around 11. I decided to take a look and found that the wires coming off the positive terminal of my alternator were completely fried. The rubber cover and the insulator that the nut tightens on were both completely torched. The two wires directly touched were fried to a crisp and were barely making contact. They fell apart in my hands!

I am going to try to replace them with larger gauge wire and figure out some way to mount them to the alternator since the mount is torched.

Any ideas on how this would happen? Why did Subaru use such dinky wire in the first place?! Has this happened to any of you out there?

[svx_commuter]

WOW that is pretty scary. I guess your SVX wasn't running after that. Do a search on alternator wiring upgrade. Some SVXers have done this switch to a larger wire. I think no one has fried the terminal though. Your ALT may have internal damage.

[mohrds]

Originally posted by SVXer95
Was just wondering if this has happened to anyone else.

Tonight I saw that my voltage was running around 11. I decided to take a look and found that the wires coming off the positive terminal of my alternator were completely fried. The rubber cover and the insulator that the nut tightens on were both completely torched. The two wires directly touched were fried to a crisp and were barely making contact. They fell apart in my hands!

I am going to try to replace them with larger gauge wire and figure out some way to mount them to the alternator since the mount is torched.

Any ideas on how this would happen? Why did Subaru use such dinky wire in the first place?! Has this happened to any of you out there?

The terminal on the alternator is an add on part. The actual terminal comes straight out the back of the alternator and they bolt the little adapter that points vertical to that. You should be able to find that terminal from an auto electric shop.

As for why the wire is so small, Cost savings? I dunno, but the wires for the alternator, headlamps, taillamps, starter and main ground are all too small.