86 se. 4.9. Switched over to carb. And distributor..got an alternator with a built in regulator.it wont turn on..what do I need to do to activate the charging of the alternator. ??

Do you have a working volts light?

No lights on in the dash..does it need a signal from somewhere to kickstart the ALT.? I even ran a heavy wire from the main positive output pole on the alternater to the battery..figuring that the ALT. Would see low voltage and start charging..this is a good ALT. I had it checked today.i know I read somewhere on here that you must have a batt. Light in the dash that somehow has something to do with charging.

Yes Sir!

The little light bulb is the circuit that says 'Charge' to the alternator. Fix the bulb and your problems should be over.

edit: if you have the aux. gauge cluster like the GT, it's in there.

[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 10-23-2013).]

I ran into the same thing - changed the bulb while it was running and you could instantly feel the load on the motor change and the volts came up of course.

I will give that a try first thing tomorrow thanks to each of you..c

Unless you use a "1 wire" alt...

Needs 2 things...
1. alt light circuit must be good, as noted above
2. sense wire must be good

See my Cave, Alternator Sense
If use CS alt, CS Alternator

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

it seems the brown wire running from my alt. goes into the computer do i need the cars original computer to run the alt.>??

no.