I'm upgrading all the battery cables on my '99 XJ and was wondering where the main lead off the alternator goes. I really don't want to tear apart the harness if I don't have to.
XJ alternator lead question
Dec 24, 2003
4 Replies
It hooks up to the smaller red wire off the battery at the power distribution box.
Just a heads up. You cannot just 'change' that wire. It has a fuse link crimped onto the end by the distribution box that is the only overload protection the alternator has. Removing this can/will cause fires if something messes up later.
The fuse link is about 8" long with a loop end on the bolt the battery cable hooks onto and a large rubber tube shaped crimp connector on the alternator side of the link.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT'skid4lyf wrote:
Thanks for the heads up
Do you know what the value is of that fusable link?
It is actually a chunk of wire that is a thermal protection link.
The wire has a soft rubber insulation on it and can be purchased by the foot from the dealer or at some good automotive shops.
It is also normally 2 gauge sizes smaller than the harness circuit it protects.
Most alternator main wires are 10 ga. The fuse link is a 14 ga one for that.
Fuse link wires also have to be attached with crimp connectors. Soldering them ruins them.
Mike
kid4lyf wrote:
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