I have no idea how to reconnect the x2 little wires again. I know they are some sort of sense wires but that is all. I havent got a rev counter, so havent needed them until now.

actually, I just realised, one will be the "sense" wire, and the ohter will be for a rev counter ? (even if you dont have one, the wire will be there)

so just connect em up and see what happens, if it doesent look right, swap em over  (look for the battery light with just the ignition on, it should be on, if not swap em ).... and if its on either way, just stat it up and see if it goes out

Quote from: bytejunkie

the wire youre calling a sense wire is the wire that powers the red light on the dash to warn of a low voltage condition either on the battery or alternator side of things.


it is NOT the wire that feeds the rev counter. Thats fed from the coil and will typically be green or red w/ black.

you dont need either to run the car, but its advisable to have the alternator warning light wired up.

if the two wires come from the same place, why would swapping them up once connected to the other end of the alt warning connector change anything? same source, different connector? same voltage unless theres a split.

dont want to flam you.... but youve got it a bit wrong

the "sense" wire as were calling it does do the dash light, its -ve when the alrernator is not producing power, then +ve when it is... which makes the light go out.... but, also while its +ve (and why its been called a sense wite) is that it also tells the alternator how much power to put out... (not really sure how it does this tbh, could guess but would probably be wrong)

but more importantly, if its not joined up then your alternator wont be putting out any power.  plus when ERU is say there are 2 connections, i think theyre riught next to each other, but not joined.

for the rev counter.... his van is a diesel so it doesent have a rev counter.... its pretty normaly to have a connection on the alternator that does the same thing

so do you have an update ERU?  how goes it ?

(p.s. sorry to flame you dude)

its a diesel, there is no spark

[edit, just noticed the typo above, when i said his is a diesel so no reve counter, when i ment no coil!]

all you need to know is how fast the alternator is spinning, then you can do the rest with an easy bit of maths..

your right for petrols, and Ive only ever seen the alternator rev counter system on diesels  (tho tbh I havent really looked at that many different veichles)