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4th February 2018, 13:40 | #1 |
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Alternator 2 pin or 3 pin
My 2003 MG ZT diesel has stopped charging,the battery light has come on and the night before this the lights were fading up and down, so i am assuming it needs a regulator/brushes.(i have a battery charge indicator plugged into the lighter socket and when the battery light does go out for a minute or two,it does go over the 14v mark but whith the light on its showing 11.5v).
The lead to the alternator is a 3 pin but there is only 2 pins on the alternator,have been looking on ebay and some of the alternators that have a 3 pin plug also have 3 pins on the alternator and other only have 2 like mine, does it matter which one i get as long as it accepts a 3 pin plug. Thanks. |
4th February 2018, 14:53 | #2 |
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Rover 75CDT, Jaguar XF-S 3.0V6, V'xhall Omega V6 Estate, Twintop 1.8VVT, Astra Estate and Corsa 1.2 Join Date: Dec 2007
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the regulators are different for the two versions, so it does matter.
It is easy enough to check which you have with a telescopic mirror. |
4th February 2018, 15:30 | #3 |
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You can plug a 2 pin loom plug into a 3 pin alternator socket because it just does not use pin 3, I have fitted them. But you cannot plug a 3 pin loom connector into a 2 pin alternator socket because it needs pin 3.
You need a 3 pin alternator
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If at first you don't succeed, hide the evidence |
4th February 2018, 16:01 | #4 |
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Thanks for the replies but maybe i'm not explaining my problem clearly enough,the plug on my wiring loom has 3 female connectors but the alternator only has 2 male connectors and a blank space for the third one,but when looking to buy another alternator some of them are the same as mine with 2 males and a blank and others have 3 males,both of these are known as a 3 pin alternator due to the wiring loom plug being able to take three pins.(i know there are 2 pin alternators but the wiring loom for these only have a 2 pin female socket and only 2 male pins on the alternator and has a different shaped socket).
So can i use an alternator that has three male pins, as my wiring loom plug has three female connectors or do i need one the same as i have got,with 2 male pins and a blank space or doesnt it matter. Help would be appreciated as i wouldnt want to buy the wrong one. |
4th February 2018, 16:32 | #5 |
This is my second home
Rover 75CDT, Jaguar XF-S 3.0V6, V'xhall Omega V6 Estate, Twintop 1.8VVT, Astra Estate and Corsa 1.2 Join Date: Dec 2007
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The two alternators - 2 pin and 3 pin - are interchangeable.
But, the 2 pin alternator is 120A whereas the 3-pin one I believe is only 100A or 110A. I would buy the 2-pin one given a choice. If you have the time, why not get your current one rebuilt? There is a place in Ipswich that I can recommend but they do not do a postal service. |
4th February 2018, 19:17 | #6 |
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[QUOTE=mss;2592143][I]The two alternators - 2 pin and 3 pin - are interchangeable.
But, the 2 pin alternator is 120A whereas the 3-pin one I believe is only 100A or 110A. I would buy the 2-pin one given a choice. If you have the time, why not get your current one rebuilt? There is a place in Ipswich that I can recommend but they do not do a postal service. Cheers ,will get it off and try match it with a like for like and play safe. |
4th February 2018, 16:29 | #7 |
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Thanks for the replies but maybe i'm not explaining my problem clearly enough,the plug on my wiring loom has 3 female connectors but the alternator only has 2 male connectors and a blank space for the third one,but when looking to buy another alternator some of them are the same as mine with 2 males and a blank and others have 3 males,both of these are known as a 3 pin alternator due to the wiring loom plug being able to take three pins.(i know there are 2 pin alternators but the wiring loom for these only have a 2 pin female socket and only 2 male pins on the alternator and has a different shaped socket).
So can i use an alternator that has three male pins, as my wiring loom plug has three female connectors or do i need one the same as i have got,with 2 male pins and a blank space or doesnt it matter. Help would be appreciated as i wouldnt want to buy the wrong one. |
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