[jeeptoplesstx]

Ok, so my alternator died a while ago and today I finally had the time to take care of it. I went to radio shack and bought a multimeter and also an alternator/battery tester( I know they could have done the same thing but it was a cool little device and was only like six bucks so I got it). Well, tested everything and it was definitely the alternator. So, I started tearing into that and I got everthing off except for the two little screws on the bottom. One of the bolts just turned and turned and was apparently stripped inside the alternator...so as I am trying to figure out how to get it off my neighbor stops by...and being that he is an engineer and older I figured he would be a big help...well, he got a bunch of little tools out and it was looking really good until all of a sudden he slipped and sheared one of the eyehole clips right off. The ones that are attached to the JEEP- not the alternator..to the little black box that directly attaches to the alternator underneath...this piece is a sealed piece of plastic...as far as I can tell it does not open...I even tried to cut through it with a knife and realized that wasnt going to work after about two seconds. There are three wires coming into this thing. two green ones(one with an orange stripe) and a thick ground wire. However, there are four eyelets coming out of it...I think two of them are ground and the other positive and negative. So, I might be able to splice but I really dont want to botch another alternator by messing up the wiring...advanced auto didnt have one and my junk yard was stripped as well and the wires go all over from there to the AC, the fuel rail, and all over...so I dont think replacing the whole thing is going to be an option with my limited automotive skills...oh god please help because I am totally frustrated right now...thanks in advance...

[Jerry Bransford]

Touch one probe from the Ohmmeter part of your meter to the broken off lug, then with a needle pushed through the insulation, probe the other wires with the other Ohmmeter lead and see which of them connect to that broken off lug. That's how you can tell for sure which wire connects to that broken lug.

That part of your engine looks like it's coated with dried mud. Could dried mud be inside the alternator?

[jeeptoplesstx]

thank you so much Jerry, I hadnt even though of just splicing the one wire. You are such a life saver...I have been in a terrible mood all night. I appreciate you always giving such sound advice on these things. As to the alternator....it was probably Mud...the alternator was replaced about a year ago due to terrible mud being clogged in it. This entire engine is that color...this jeep has been buried in the mud up to the headlights more times than I can count. It badly needs a snorkel...I am surprises it hasnt hydrolocked with all the mud and water it has been through...Thanks so much for all your help.

[runmanpkll]

sounds like you need a low pressure washer more than a snorkle. keep em clean, keep em happy.