Orphan Wires

[ralphcap]

To what component(s) should these two wires (one brown, one red) be connected? '81 FI Spider.

[vandor]

Kind of hard to say without knowing where they go. One looks yellow to me, the wire going to the horns is yellow and about that size.

[ralphcap]

I traced the red wire from the driver's side of the engine compartment back through the firewall to a bulb on the dash board. I think it's a warning light. The sensor on top of the oil filter housing is absent a wire. Maybe that's were it belongs. Could it be for the altenator? I installed a new gear reduction starter but when I try to start the car it clicks and buzzes but doesn' turn over. I think I have it wired correctly. Any suggestions? It's great weather and I'm anxious to roll!

[westy64]

It looks like what I had on my 1976
Isn't one of these two wires orange, and plugged into fuse L on the other side ?
see this
http://www.globallistics.com/spidersweb ... ndex0.html

Might be original wire from the external regulator to the fuse box, useless after an alternator replacement (when replaced by a new one with internal regulator).
What year is your car ?

[ralphcap]

Westy64 my Spider is a 1981 FI.

[vandor]

>I traced the red wire from the driver's side of the engine compartment back through the firewall to a bulb on the dash >board.

Do you know which one?

> The sensor on top of the oil filter housing is absent a wire.

That is usually gray, or gray/black.

> Could it be for the altenator?

Those are usually black. The wire from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid is red, but you said your starter does something when you turn the switch, so likely it's not that wire.

> I installed a new gear reduction starter but when I try to start the car it clicks and buzzes but doesn' turn over. I think I >have it wired correctly.

Check voltage at the large wire at the starter when trying to start it.

[vandor]

>Might be original wire from the external regulator to the fuse box

He does not have an external regulator. On his car the v-reg is the black rectangular box on the back of the alternator.

[ralphcap]

Well, I placed a battery tender on my battery overnight and the next morning it started on the first turn of the key. After driving on short runs for a few days it happened again. It would not turn over. Can something be wrong with my alternator? My new starter sounds great and starts my Spider immediately provided I use the battery tender. Any suggestions? Once this is sorted out I'll pursue the orphan wires. The orphan wires don't seem to effect basic operations. Again, thanks for y'alls help.

[vandor]

What is the voltage at the alternator at idle with lights off? How about at idle with lights and wipers on?
Same at 3000 rpm?