Current Classifieds

1980 Ford AM radio
Date: 12/22/2019 11:57 am
parting out 1975 & 80 pintos
Date: 08/24/2018 02:50 pm
2.0 Mickey Thompson SUPER RARE Rocker cover and belt guard
Date: 08/22/2017 09:21 pm
Front grill for '72
Date: 03/02/2022 12:09 pm
Built and Injected early 2000cc Engine

Date: 04/10/2017 07:30 pm
t-5 2.3 trans and new flywheel cluch and pressure plate though out bearing for sale
Date: 09/09/2018 03:22 pm
72 Pinto parts
Date: 12/04/2018 09:56 pm
Gazelle Replicar Pinto powered frame

Date: 01/28/2017 12:30 pm
Weber dcoe intake 2.0

Date: 08/01/2018 01:09 pm
71-73 2.0 4 speed transmission wanted
Date: 09/06/2020 01:57 am
Built 2.0
Date: 10/07/2018 05:27 pm
Want side to side luggage rack rails for '75 Pinto wagon
Date: 08/30/2018 12:59 am

Author Topic: Alternator  (Read 3185 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline delizious

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 82
  • FeedBack: +0/-0
  • Gender: Female

  • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Alternator
« on: August 29, 2012, 06:43:00 PM »
So I recently bought a 500 watt amp and didn't realize that my alternator couldn't handle it, I'm assuming I have to either totally change the charging system OR install two or more batteries? I don't know how to approach this situation I'm really bad with electrical stuffs.
Lost 1972 Ford Pinto
Gained 1978 Ford Pinto

Offline Bigtimmay

  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 710
  • FeedBack: +8/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Everythings better with boost!

  • Total Badges: 6
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Fifth year Anniversary Mobile User Windows User
Re: Alternator
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2012, 08:32:19 PM »
You will need to install a larger alternator not more batteries. Search for 3g alternator install they make a 130amp that can easily be found in salvage yards for cheap. And the work needed to install one isnt too complicated.
1978 Mercury Bobcat 2.3t swapped.Always needs more parts!

Offline delizious

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 82
  • FeedBack: +0/-0
  • Gender: Female

  • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Alternator
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2012, 08:56:24 PM »
Yea sounds about right, but what I don't get right now is why my car isn't turning over at all it just clicks from the solenoid from time to time. Maybe a loose wire of some sort..
Lost 1972 Ford Pinto
Gained 1978 Ford Pinto

Offline Bigtimmay

  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 710
  • FeedBack: +8/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Everythings better with boost!

  • Total Badges: 6
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Fifth year Anniversary Mobile User Windows User
Re: Alternator
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2012, 09:05:13 PM »
Yea sounds about right, but what I don't get right now is why my car isn't turning over at all it just clicks from the solenoid from time to time. Maybe a loose wire of some sort..
Sounds like your right on track with a loose or corroded wire. could be a bad solenoid too though.
http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/3G_Alternator/3G_Alternator.html
That's a pretty good write up on a 3g install
1978 Mercury Bobcat 2.3t swapped.Always needs more parts!

Offline delizious

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 82
  • FeedBack: +0/-0
  • Gender: Female

  • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Alternator
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2012, 09:11:46 PM »
I just replaced the positive battery wire and solenoid and bought a new battery. -.-
Lost 1972 Ford Pinto
Gained 1978 Ford Pinto

Offline Bigtimmay

  • Pinto Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 710
  • FeedBack: +8/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • Everythings better with boost!

  • Total Badges: 6
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Fifth year Anniversary Mobile User Windows User
Re: Alternator
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2012, 09:14:48 PM »
I just replaced the positive battery wire and solenoid and bought a new battery. -.-
Is the starter bad?
 
1978 Mercury Bobcat 2.3t swapped.Always needs more parts!

Offline delizious

  • Pinto Member
  • **
  • Posts: 82
  • FeedBack: +0/-0
  • Gender: Female

  • Total Badges: 4
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Windows User Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Alternator
« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2012, 09:38:35 PM »
The starter is the square thing or the cylinder thing? The electrical box is square right? I just replaced that about a year ago.. I'm really bad with electrical systems >.<
Lost 1972 Ford Pinto
Gained 1978 Ford Pinto

Offline oldkayaker

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 758
  • FeedBack: +114/-0
  • Gender: Male

  • Total Badges: 5
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Windows User Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Alternator
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2012, 02:42:03 AM »
"I just replaced the positive battery wire and solenoid and bought a new battery."  Do not forget the negative battery cable and its connections.  Since the components are in series, any one could cause excessive voltage drop (like weak link in chain syndrome).
 
Just guessing, the square thing could be the voltage regulator (bolted on the sheet metal).  If the cylinder thing is bolted low on the bellhousing, that would be the starter.
Jerry J - Jupiter, Florida

Offline r4pinto

  • Pinto PooBAH
  • ******
  • Posts: 3854
  • FeedBack: +108/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • All hail Ford Pinto!!!!

  • Total Badges: 9
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Linux User Mobile User Windows User 1000 Posts Tenth year Anniversary Fifth year Anniversary
Re: Alternator
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2012, 11:30:59 AM »
The starter is the square thing or the cylinder thing? The electrical box is square right? I just replaced that about a year ago.. I'm really bad with electrical systems >.<

The starter is a motor that actually cranks over the engine & is mounted on the passenger side of the engine at the transmission on the 2.3s. There is also a cable that goes from the starter, to the solenoid. If that cable is bad you could experience some issues.
Matt Manter
1977 Pinto sedan- Named Harold II after the first Pinto(Harold) owned by my mom. R.I.P mom- 1980 parts provider & money machine for anything that won't fit the 80
1980 Pinto Runabout- work in progress

Offline Pinto5.0

  • Pinto Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1974
  • FeedBack: +77/-0
  • Gender: Male
  • 80 hatch, 76 Wagon, 72 & 73 Sedans, 71 half hatch

  • Total Badges: 7
    Badges: (View All)
    Topic Starter Signature Poll Voter Mobile User Fifth year Anniversary Windows User 1000 Posts
Re: Alternator
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2012, 05:25:30 PM »
Clean & tighten ALL battery connections, grounds, starter & solenoid positive connections & see what that does. You have a bad connection or corrosion somewhere.
 
I've run as much as 2200 watts, 4 subs, 6 midrange & tweets off a stock GM alternator & 1000 amp battery & never had issues. If your lights dim with heavy bass thumps try a 1/2 Farad cap wired to the amp.
'73 Sedan (I'll get to it)
'76 Wagon driver
'80 hatch(Restoring to be my son's 1st car)~Callisto
'71 half hatch (bucket list Pinto)~Ghost
'72 sedan 5.0/T5~Lemon Squeeze