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Re: [WPTA] Alternator connection

To: WPTA <wpta@autox.team.net>, Tim Prell <tjprell@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [WPTA] Alternator connection
From: Jerry Van Vlack via Wpta <wpta@autox.team.net>
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2026 14:39:14 +0000
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Thread-topic: [WPTA] Alternator connection
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Tim,

Start the engine, rev it a few times and then check the battery at the posi=
tive terminal. If you get 13 or more volt reading the alternator is working=
. Normal would be in the 14.3+ volt range. If that's your reading the alter=
nator is fine. Of course as you did; check all of the connections for corro=
sion and fix that too.

Running the headlights is not a battery risk but it is a risk to the headli=
ght switch. That's why many  of us have installed relays in our headlight s=
ystem to lower the current draw thru the switch.

Trust you are enjoying KY, we are having a good time in NC. Especially liki=
ng the weather in the mountains. Driving the mountain roads is a bonus too.

Best
JVV
________________________________
From: Wpta <wpta-bounces@autox.team.net> on behalf of Tim Prell via Wpta <w=
pta@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2026 9:57 AM
To: WPTA <wpta@autox.team.net>
Subject: [WPTA] Alternator connection

I=92ve always had a feeling that running the headlights on the TR6 was a ri=
sk to the battery and unfortunately that proved true on a run in Kentucky t=
wo weeks ago. The acceleration sputttered when past half throttle (fuel sta=
rved), the overdrive stopped working and the battery died in the end. That =
battery was only 4 years old but out of warranty so I swapped it out in an =
abundance of caution and finally tested the alternator.

There was no charge above 12 volts when running, tested at the battery term=
inals. I finally inspected the alternator terminals and found the hot lead =
completely corroded and broken at the female connector. Discovered Lowe=92s=
 doesn=92t carry a spade female connector large enough for the 8-10 ha powe=
r lead but Autozone did. A relatively simple fix that I should have inspect=
ed long ago!

Hoping there=92s nothing more to it but wanted thoughts about the best way =
to get the alternator tested.

Thanks in advance,
Tim

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ttom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir=3D"ltr">
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
s=3D"elementToProof">
Tim,</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
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<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
s=3D"elementToProof">
Start the engine, rev it a few times and then check the battery at the posi=
tive terminal. If you get 13 or more volt reading the alternator is working=
. Normal would be in the 14.3+ volt range. If that's your reading the alter=
nator is fine. Of course as you
 did; check all of the connections for corrosion and fix that too.</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
s=3D"elementToProof">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
s=3D"elementToProof">
Running the headlights is not a battery risk but it is a risk to the headli=
ght switch. That's why many&nbsp; of us have installed relays in our headli=
ght system to lower the current draw thru the switch.</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
s=3D"elementToProof">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
s=3D"elementToProof">
Trust you are enjoying KY, we are having a good time in NC. Especially liki=
ng the weather in the mountains. Driving the mountain roads is a bonus too.=
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
s=3D"elementToProof">
<br>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
s=3D"elementToProof">
Best</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, =
Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" clas=
s=3D"elementToProof">
JVV</div>
<div id=3D"appendonsend"></div>
<hr style=3D"display:inline-block;width:98%" tabindex=3D"-1">
<div id=3D"divRplyFwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" st=
yle=3D"font-size:11pt" color=3D"#000000"><b>From:</b> Wpta &lt;wpta-bounces=
@autox.team.net&gt; on behalf of Tim Prell via Wpta &lt;wpta@autox.team.net=
&gt;<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, March 14, 2026 9:57 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WPTA &lt;wpta@autox.team.net&gt;<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WPTA] Alternator connection</font>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div>I=92ve always had a feeling that running the headlights on the TR6 was=
 a risk to the battery and unfortunately that proved true on a run in Kentu=
cky two weeks ago. The acceleration sputttered when past half throttle (fue=
l starved), the overdrive stopped
 working and the battery died in the end. That battery was only 4 years old=
 but out of warranty so I swapped it out in an abundance of caution and fin=
ally tested the alternator.&nbsp;
<div><br>
</div>
<div>There was no charge above 12 volts when running, tested at the battery=
 terminals. I finally inspected the alternator terminals and found the hot =
lead completely corroded and broken at the female connector. Discovered Low=
e=92s doesn=92t carry a spade female
 connector large enough for the 8-10 ha power lead but Autozone did. A rela=
tively simple fix that I should have inspected long ago!</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Hoping there=92s nothing more to it but wanted thoughts about the best=
 way to get the alternator tested.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Thanks in advance,</div>
<div>Tim</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>

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