[Vwdiesel] 3 wires on alternator-whatswhat?

[Sandy Cameron]

At 10:38 AM 19/01/05 -0400, you wrote:>
>Car:  1986 Golf 1.6L NA diesel. 5 speed. No tachometer(has an ugly clock).
>Shift light (seems to work)

The fat red one to the starter terminal is output (obviously)

The thin blue one is regulater excitation, via the red idiot light on the dash,

The thin red one is from the famous "W" terminal, which is connected to the
"Y" junction of the windings, and produces an A/C waveform used by a tach
(if present), the upshift light (computer, [ha ha] and the low oil pressure
warning gizmo that operates the low oil pressure buzzer located behind the
speedo. It only works above 2000 rpm.

The oil pressure buzzer can be tested by disconnecting the oil pressure
sensor wires at the filter and the end of the head, and driving at more than
2000 rpm (50mph?)
On some models, only operates in 5th gear, if your complicated and delicate
tranny switch is not toast

All A2 diesels use the "W" terminal, wether they have a tach or not

Sandy