System Description

Alternator

The Alternator is belt driven from the engine. Field current is supplied from the Integral Alternator Regulator, mounted on the Alternator, to the rotating field of the Alternator, through two brushes and two slip rings.

The Alternator produces power in the form of alternating current. The alternating current is rectified to direct current by current diodes. The Integral Alternator Regulator automatically adjusts the alternator field current to maintain the Alternator output voltage below prescribed limits to correctly charge the Battery.

The Regulator voltage control circuit is turned on when the Ignition Switch is ON. Voltage is applied to Regulator terminal I through a resistor in parallel with the Alternator Warning Indicator. When the Ignition Switch is OFF, the control circuit is turned off, and no field current flows to the Alternator.

Warning Indicator

The Alternator Warning Indicator is connected across the terminals of a 500 ohm or 420 ohm (Electronic Cluster only) resistor at the instrument cluster. For the 3.8L and 5.0L EFI system, current passes through the warning indicator when the Ignition Switch is in the RUN position and there is no voltage at terminal S of the regulator. When voltage at S rises to a pre-set value, the Regulator switching circuits stop the flow of current into terminal I and the indicator turns OFF.

In vehicles with supercharged engines, the Alternator Warning Indicator light up with the key in the RUN position and when the A terminal voltage is excessively high or absent, when the alternator output terminal voltage is absent, or when the internal diode trio voltage is absent. Both systems will illuminate the warning lamp with the key in RUN and the engine not running, indicating that the regulator is being powered up by the alternator is not yet charging.

A fuse link is included in the Charging System wiring on all models. The fuse link prevents damage to the wiring harness and Alternator if the wiring harness becomes grounded or if a booster battery with the wrong polarity is connected to the Charging System.