How does one remove the alternator pigtail?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 60
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From: Portland, Oregon
How does one remove the alternator pigtail?
1990 F-250 7.5L, shorted alternator is draining battery and is very, very warm. I need to remove the 3-wire plug that goes into the side of the alternator as that is the positive power feed to the battery. It's a tight fit in there and the plug is deep in the alternator body so it's not obvious to me how to get it out while the alternator is still mounted to the engine.
Truck is going in to the shop for a new unit sometime next week I hope.
Truck is going in to the shop for a new unit sometime next week I hope.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 60
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From: Portland, Oregon
Never mind, I got it.
The plastic spring clips on the pigtail need to be lifted in order to be unlocked, much like the 2-wire plug on top of the alternator that's very easy to remove. Getting in there to lift the top and bottom clips isn't possible so I used a 2" flat-bladed screwdriver and pried the plug out from the sides. The plug spring clips didn't seem to be on tightly so that made it easier to shimmy the plug out.
Now the battery is taking a charge and hopefully once it's topped off it'll be enough to get me to the shop a few miles down the road...
The plastic spring clips on the pigtail need to be lifted in order to be unlocked, much like the 2-wire plug on top of the alternator that's very easy to remove. Getting in there to lift the top and bottom clips isn't possible so I used a 2" flat-bladed screwdriver and pried the plug out from the sides. The plug spring clips didn't seem to be on tightly so that made it easier to shimmy the plug out.
Now the battery is taking a charge and hopefully once it's topped off it'll be enough to get me to the shop a few miles down the road...
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,830
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Ideally you aren’t supposed to use the alternator to charge the battery. You should put it on a battery charger.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 632
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I would get rid of the 2G and swap alternator and harness to 3G. Got mine out of a 96 460 truck in JY. Harness from alt to fender solenoid, I had to break out one wire (green with red/pink stripe if I remember correctly - been a few years). I did it mostly to eliminate fire hazard associated with 2G plug.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,925
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From: Phoenix, AZ
I would get rid of the 2G and swap alternator and harness to 3G. Got mine out of a 96 460 truck in JY. Harness from alt to fender solenoid, I had to break out one wire (green with red/pink stripe if I remember correctly - been a few years). I did it mostly to eliminate fire hazard associated with 2G plug.
I'm sure you could make one relatively easy as well, but if the junk yards aren't too far out of the way, these trucks are ridiculously common so finding a harness shouldn't be a problem. It probably would be cheaper getting the harness from the junkyard than trying to build it as well.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 60
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From: Portland, Oregon
Correct, the alternator does charge the battery...when it's working. When I said "Now the battery is taking a charge and..." I meant it was on a battery charger and the battery alone will get me to the shop where the alternator can be correctly replaced.
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