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Black Wire, White Tracer/ What is it?

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:53 am
by longyard
I've got an '82 Rabbit Caddy and am replacing the 65amp alternator with a
90amp one. I've got the new one in and it works great. However, I've got a
black wire with a white tracer that is sticking out of the original wiring
harness, and I can't remember where it goes. Does anyone know?

Thanks,
Bill Longyard

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 11:55 am
by Vincent Waldon
It's either the wire to the alternator light (but it sounds like it's working fine ?? Light comes on with the key and then goes off when you rev the engine ??) or the W wire to the tachometer / up shift indicator. (if equipped)

If your 90A alternator is not designed for a diesel there will likely be no W terminal on it.

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:15 pm
by tylernt
Going by memory here, but I think the alternator warning light is blue and the black/white wire is the W terminal for a tachometer or shift light.

As Vincent Waldon mentioned, the 90A may not have a W terminal.

w terminal

Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:39 am
by Fatmobile
I think some of the gassers had w terminals too.
I stuck a 65 amp alternator from a gasser on my Rabbit project and it had a w terminal.
I think it works with the upshift light and dynamic oil pressure system on cars with the larger trany plug.