1976 Calais sedan alternator wiring

Hi, I've just bought my first ever Cadillac - a 1976 Calais sedan over here in Manchester, UK. Before you ask, fuel over here costs approximately $8 per gallon. Ouch.
 
I write for a UK magazine called 'Classic American' so hopefully I can contribute to the forum although right now I need your help:
 
My Calais hasn't run for a while and the guy who sold it to me changed the battery's old 'side terminals' for the conventional 'round terminal' battery he had to fit to get it running - and run it does. The problem is that the alternator light on the dash is lit; dimly at idle and more brightly at revs. Looking at the back of the alternator the black wire is going straight to the +ve terminal. At the other side of the +ve terminal there is a wire which has had it's end cut-off and so goes nowhere. Any ideas what's happened here?
 
I've tried to post pictures of the alt' and the battery terminal but they're too large apparently and I don't know how to make them smaller.
 
I hope the problem makes sense to some of you out there. If you could give me any pointers I'd be sincerely grateful.
 
Andy
 

Pictures would help for sure. All you have to do is go to your photo editor and resize them to be less than 300 MB.
 
A quick thought or two though, is your belt tight enough? Is you idle high enough? Sure seems like you are not charging and that would point to the Alternator. Does it start after driving, is the battery strong enough to start it?
 
I have a 73 Pontiac and I'll look at my alternator and see if I can fugure out that extra wire you mention. I have to say over here you can get an AC Delco alternator for about $85 and a $10 refund for the core. In my Pontiacif it takes 20 minutes to change I'd be surprised.

My 73 Pontiac Alternator is no help, it has 3 wires leaving the back of the alternator, one red which is bolted to a terminal on the Alt and then two in a connector one red one black. They are all bundled and head back to the fire wall where they connect to a harness and that's all I see right now.

Thanks for the reply. I'll try again later to get some pictures on here.
 
The battery is brand new. The wiring was fine when I first saw the car and it was on its original 'side-terminal' battery. The generator light has only been on since the old battery died and the guy converted the terminals to the conventional type. The belt appears tight and doesn't squeel - and the car would appear to be running really smooth.
 
I have to go out now but I'll get back onto the pics later and see what I can do. Oh also is there a place in the US where I can get things like exterior brightwork - 'Calais' script, rear 'quarter' window surrounds and that sort of thing?
 
Many thanks again,
 
Andy

Hey there 76:  On my alternator diagram it shows two wires going to the regulator, on wire going to the battery via the solenoid, and the ground wire. The battery wire appears to go to a split off also and go to a junction block which then also goes back to the reg. Hope this helps. Also check out  www.usapartssupply.com  for all kinds of caddy parts. Just get them to end you a catalogue that pertains to your year of caddy. Good luck.

Hi Brougham, from what you've told me I think the ground might be missing. Would that explain the generator light getting brighter as the revs increase? The car is locked in my friends warehouse so I'll go and check it monday morning.
 
Thanks for the link - that's some list of parts! It might take a while to find what I need but I'm sure it'll be there.
 

Many thanks for your help so far.
 
I thought I'd let you know that I've found the problem. The two terminals on the alternator were quite badly corroded and it was only charging intermittently. Almost unbelievably I found the exact same unit brand new, at my local auto electrical store and had it fitted inside the hour! It's now charging at 14.2 volts and the 'generator' light only comes on as it should - before the motor fires up.
 
One more question while I'm here; on the dash, just to the right of the heater controls there 2 small holes. As a wild guess I'd say that there should be a 'Calais' script on there (or deVille etc....). If so, do usapartssupply.com supply stuff like this?
 
Andy
 
 
 

Thanks for letting us know. Awesome that they had the part!
 
Here is my favourite place for vintage car parts, you must see something here to suit.
 
http://search.ebay.ca/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&from=R10&mppfqy=cadillac+emblems&_trksid=m37&satitle=cadillac+emblems&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=M4J+4P2&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1

Nice one Kartzman's I'll get right on it.
 
These cars are cool...!

Hi all, can you think of any other suppliers of parts besides US Parts Supply? The catalogue arrived in the post and I gave them a call to run through a few things and...well maybe I caught the guy on a bad day but I have to say that their attitude totally stank. I explained that I was calling from the UK and that I needed this-and-that. The guy made it plain from his tone of voice and one-word answers that he had no intention of helping me (maybe it's an anti-British thing???) or discussing what I need for my car.....
 
Earlier this year I worked for Motoexotica out in StLouis and I found American parts suppliers to be 'can-do' kind of people - so this came as a surprise. Any ideas?