I am an idiot.

[volvo240skunk37]

So you figure something as easy as replacing an alternator on an old Volvo is easy right? So easy that you could do it in a parking lot. Well I did just that today in my apartment complex's parking lot. It would've been so easy to do if the parking lot wasn't on a 45 degree angle and I actually brought the right tools home from work. Of course I forgot to bring home one of my floor jacks, a prybar and some common sense.

I bought a Denso alternator from TBer Phil and the upgrade was really easy except I of course didn't put the wires back on the alternator right and now the battery,brake failure & parking brake light is on. (Forgive me, I haven't replaced an alternator on a Volvo 240 since George W was in office.) So I'm assuming that those lights are on since I didn't change out one of the wires running from my car that would/should connect into a spade clip housing on a denso alternator and just tightened it down on an 8MM bolt next to the 13MM bolt?

If I don't make any sense, tell me lol.
-Eric

[$EEKING 945 TURBO WAGON]

Please stay out of my diary. Happens to the best of us.

[240240]

put a brake pad on backwards, took me 2 days to figure out what I did wrong...if that makes you feel better

I also put a skillsaw blade on backwards and it took me 5 minutes to figure out why a new blade would smoke so much

I never make mistakes like that on alternators.. You feel better now OP?

[Wilford Brimley]

Way to humble yourself with that title. Respect.


EDIT: I have done more than stupid **** too. I'm a tranny killer, and I mean the transmission, not people.

[Lord_Athlon]

The wire in question is the exciter wire, and it goes on a push-on spade

[volvo240skunk37]

Originally Posted by smokeyfan1000

I never make mistakes like that on alternators.. You feel better now OP?

Ill feel better when either I figure it out or somebody tells me what the hell I did wrong.

[volvo240skunk37]

Originally Posted by Lord_Athlon

The wire in question is the exciter wire, and it goes on a push-on spade

Alright so instead of having it connected to the alternator, I should splice the wire and conntect it to the spade?

[Lord_Athlon]

Yes. What you did is you grounded that circuit, so the alt shouldn't be charging.

Hook it to the spade and go go go

If it didn't blow the rectifier/volt regulator...............50/50?

FWIW it's hard to see which of the 2 recessed male spades it hooks to with alt in car.

I always use a blue Sharpie pen * to mark the excitor wire's location* on OLD alt before removing the wires.

Then I find the correct terminal's marking (D+ and D- are the two IIRC?)on the new alt & mark it too. Has always worked for me...so long as old alt was wired correctly to begin with.

And different alts are differently wired. So IMO, it pays to make notes/etc before removing wires sometimes.................can save one lots of time & $$.........

[lummert]

Most people don't advertise the possibility of being an idiot.

[240240]

Originally Posted by lummert

Most people don't advertise the possibility of being an idiot.

Originally Posted by Wilford Brimley

Way to humble yourself with that title. Respect.

.

that just means his tiny e-balls get in the way of his real life 9 inch tube steak. no need to prove a point when you can destroy vaginas all day long with that beast

[coonmanx]

Replacing a 240's alternator sucks. Down on the bottom of the engine and behind the oil filter. Even worse on the turbo cars where there are also oil cooler lines in the way. Last time I just paid someone to do the job.

Hope nothing blew up.

Originally Posted by coonmanx

Replacing a 240's alternator sucks. Down on the bottom of the engine and behind the oil filter. Even worse on the turbo cars where there are also oil cooler lines in the way. Last time I just paid someone to do the job.

Hope nothing blew up.

It's easy IMO. Can have one off in less than 15 minutes.....................

[240240]

Originally Posted by smokeyfan1000

It's easy IMO. Can have one off in less than 15 minutes.....................

on a turbo
I need to see this video now!

[The Spirit Of Rolling]

Replaced a transmission in a VW Caddy three times in one day, only because I kept forgetting the order of installation. That day SUCKED... Luckily, I too can destroy vaginas; 'tis why she is divorcing me as we type.

[coonmanx]

Originally Posted by 240240

on a turbo
I need to see this video now!

Agreed.

[240240]

Originally Posted by The Spirit Of Rolling

Replaced a transmission in a VW Caddy three times in one day, only because I kept forgetting the order of installation. That day SUCKED... Luckily, I too can destroy vaginas; 'tis why she is divorcing me as we type.

she will destroy your penis and your ass with very little effort....good luck to you man

[volvo240skunk37]

Originally Posted by smokeyfan1000

It's easy IMO. Can have one off in less than 15 minutes.....................

Ummm...okay...why you feel the need to flaunt your "mad alternator removal skillz" on an online forum is beyond me....

...anyways the car's all set..I spliced the exciter wire and plugged it into the male spade and its good to go. Thanks for the help lord athalon.

-Eric

[EulieLee]

Got a trans all back together, looked at my work bench, crap, there's the flywheel. Luckily was old 240 and not WWD. 20 minutes later back together....funny how fast things come out when you **** it the first time.

[2manyturbos]

Originally Posted by 240240

on a turbo
I need to see this video now!

No, definitely not on a turbo. I had to replace one on an 82 240 turbo recently, what a PITA.

[$EEKING 945 TURBO WAGON]

I say that admitting taking five minutes to discern a jigsaw blade's copious smoking was caused by installing it backwards took huge humility to say out loud.

We know we are taking life much too seriously when our supposedly, but mistaken "manly" pride keeps us from laughing at ourselves.

My view is that it takes major cajones to admit personal gaffes. It's hilarious to have the stones to admit the backward brake pad routine,too- but the winner is the original poster for his ballsy title.
False bravado is, well- false. Real people do stupid stuff- the humor in admitting the lessons to ourselves is the icing on the cake.

[504]

OP, can you post a photo of the correct location for the wire? PO installed an alternator on my recently purchased 245, and the same dash lights you mentioned are on, no charging.

[volvo240skunk37]

Originally Posted by 504

OP, can you post a photo of the correct location for the wire? PO installed an alternator on my recently purchased 245, and the same dash lights you mentioned are on, no charging.

Hey lemme PM ya.

[volvo240skunk37]

Originally Posted by EulieLee

Got a trans all back together, looked at my work bench, crap, there's the flywheel. Luckily was old 240 and not WWD. 20 minutes later back together....funny how fast things come out when you **** it the first time.

Hahaha! That's great! Did you add ATF and everything?

Nah guys its not me having big stones or anything...I try my hardest to be a humble person..I'm a modern day hippie (except I have a job lol) and even though I know a great deal about cars, I ALWAYS ask questions and I always look at diagrams,etc. I hate "just winging it" working on cars...that's when things get messed up and that's what I did with my alt...