> Here's a clue to what might be happening.
>
> When the resistor was connected, the ignition light is dimly lit
> at low revs -
> such as between 600 to 1000 rpm. This means that the alternator
> is sourcing
> some current via the brown/green wire to ground via the white wire.
>
> Since a 5 ohm resistor is tied to the white wire, and the alternator is
> SOURCING current,
You actually don't know which way the current is flowing at this point,
whether it's from the ignition circuit (white wire) into the alternator, or
the other way.
> does that mean the alternator's internal
> circuitry has a malfunction?
I don't think so. Mine did the same thing (but it was an externally
regulated Ford alternator, not quite the same as the GM). I've always
assumed it meant that the alternator output voltage was falling off at low
rpm, but I can't explain why it went away when you removed the resistor.
Randall
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