I have been losing my alternator battery recharging on my 88 SWB. I went to Auto Zone and when they attached their test device to the battery it indicated that my alternator was putting out less than 12 volts. I returned my rebuilt alternator back to the shop that R&R the unit. and it appears the single wire connection is arcing. Installed a spare alternator on the truck and the same thing is happening again. Alternator man says my fuse link is bad and needs to be replaced. I noticed when I changed the alternator the single wire connector had some rust on it. Any ideas on how to find out what is causing this problem?

Did you replace the fuse link because that would be my guess. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

What do they mean by the fuse link. Does that mean I have a short in the single wire somewhere and I need to replace the wire or does that mean I have to change out a fuse in the fusebox? I have read in previous posts that there is a 90-100amp fuse somewhere in the truck is that the fuse link?

Driver's side of the engine bay, just forward of the clutch reservoir (assuming you have a manual tranny) on the side of the compartment.

Capn, the truck is an automatic, do you mean next to the brake reservoir? I see a black box in that location with three red wires and one green wire.

sure man, that's probably the fuse links

fuse links are like fuses. replace like with like.

i think they use one guage smaller wire that thet used in the circuit

I dont see how fuse links could be a problem unless it is open (burned) maybe poor connections is the deal..

Thanks for your help. I am going to pick up the rebuild alternator from the shop tomorrow. They replaced the stud that snapped off when I backed off the one wire stud nut. The wire connection was arcing. I am going to switch out the existing alternator this weekend for the third time. I think I am down to 40 minutes on pulling the AC compressor, compressor bracket and changing out the alternator. I think the first time I did the job it took 2 hours. I will this time inspect the charging wire plus the fuse link to see if there are any signs of bare wire or corrosion.