Electrical question - Toyota Yaris Forums

Shroomster · 07-04-2009, 12:53 AM

I'm looking for confirmation or constructive critiscism.

2001 Honda Civic

Ok, Alternator Power to battery cable corroded at terminal on alternator and fell apart.

***wire is 10.0 gauge AVX ok, it's just aluminum colored sorry, hehe....

it's actually looking like thin stranded copper with tin coating.

pretty sure it's not fusible link (just checked charging system WD and I don't see any***

I for the time being spliced approx 8" of copper 8AWG with a new eyelet to the terminal and to the end of the non-corroded part of the line.

This is most likely a week-long temporary fix (can't get back to it until next thursday)

anyone see any problems or not?

***UPDATED***

Sir A.Y. Atoyot · 07-04-2009, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shroomster

I'm looking for confirmation or constructive critiscism.

2001 Honda Civic

Ok, Alternator Power to battery cable corroded at terminal on alternator and fell apart.

Wire is aluminum 10.0 gauge not sure if it's VLT(w/o going and looking)

I for the time being spliced approx 8" of copper 8AWG with a new eyelet to the terminal and to the end of the non-corroded part of the line.

This is most likely a week-long temporary fix (can't get back to it until next thursday)

anyone see any problems or not?

Aluminum is never used for car wiring - that wire was likely a fusible link. Those are made of a material that somewhat resembles aluminum.

Your repair sounds OK for get-you-home. Make sure that you get it properly fixed ASAP. If the original wire was a fusible link, replacing it with copper could lead to the whole car going up in smoke, if the cause of the burnout isn't addressed.

Shroomster · 07-04-2009, 04:35 PM

OK JUST TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT CLEARER

THE WIRE THAT RUNS FROM THE ALTERNATOR to the battery (the single wire that is bolted to an alternator)
is what corroded , it corroded because the wire end eyelet was separating from the wire and it started arcing and corroding and the regulator was pushing voltage through a few highly corroded strands that were still attatched and thusly it failed.

I needed a quick either permanent fix or temp fix, so my step-father in-law crimped an eyelet to a an 8" piece of copper 8AWG wire. he then crimped (butt-spliced) the new lead to the old power wire (after I cut out the corroded portion) and I resecured the newly repaired wire to the alt.

I need to know if the smaller 8AWG wire is ok crimped to a gauge larger.

the 8AWG has less strands but they are large
the 10.0 AVX has more smaller strands.

pics

Sir A.Y. Atoyot · 07-04-2009, 05:31 PM

The old wire looks like a fusible link to me.

8 gauge wire is thicker than 10 gauge, so you're OK there.

Shroomster · 07-04-2009, 06:02 PM

well that's the thing, I know about gauge sizes and all but the old wire looks to be thicker than the new....unless the insulation is just thicker on the old wire....I dunno.

we both knew it 'looked' smaller and both know I'm going to need to keep an eye on the splice to make sure it doesn't get too hot, but hell kinda hard to check it accurately when it's smack up against the exhaust manifold....
I'm probably not going to feel 100% comfortable until i can get to a junkyard and get that part of the wire off another car....

BLH · 07-04-2009, 06:46 PM

8 AWG is heaver than 10 AWG. The smaller the number the heavier the wire.

Insulation can fool you. I have seen some higher voltage rated insulation thinner than some of the lower voltage stuff. All depends on what the insulation is made of.

Shroomster · 07-04-2009, 06:59 PM

I thought for it to be AWG gauged it has to say AWG behind the number on the wiring?

Revsson · 07-04-2009, 08:08 PM

I think CTScott or someone is an Electrical Engineer that might have the definitive answer.
Most likely, since that car was made in Japan, that it is a Japanese standard or maybe
even a Chinese manufactured cable not made to the AWG standard specifications.
(AWG = American Wire Gauge)

Shroomster · 07-04-2009, 08:11 PM

Yeah I pm'ed Scott and he got back to me and he gave me a nod so I feel better at least about this being able to sustain until I get to a junkyard or longer

Sir A.Y. Atoyot · 07-04-2009, 08:53 PM

Fusible links usually have rubber-looking insulation. Their function (like all fuses) is to melt when an overload occurs. You can buy fuse link wire by the foot at auto parts stores.

Shroomster · 07-04-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir A.Y. Atoyot

Fusible links usually have rubber-looking insulation. Their function (like all fuses) is to melt when an overload occurs. You can buy fuse link wire by the foot at auto parts stores.

lol I get it I get it....

thanks for all the replies and help everyone

07-04-2009, 12:53 AM	#1
Shroomster '07 to '12:2 wipers to 1? View User's Garage Drives: '12 5-door LE & '14 5-door LE Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,999	Electrical question I'm looking for confirmation or constructive critiscism. 2001 Honda Civic Ok, Alternator Power to battery cable corroded at terminal on alternator and fell apart. *wire is 10.0 gauge AVX ok, it's just aluminum colored sorry, hehe.... it's actually looking like thin stranded copper with tin coating. pretty sure it's not fusible link (just checked charging system WD and I don't see any* I for the time being spliced approx 8" of copper 8AWG with a new eyelet to the terminal and to the end of the non-corroded part of the line. This is most likely a week-long temporary fix (can't get back to it until next thursday) anyone see any problems or not? *UPDATED* Last edited by Shroomster; 07-04-2009 at 04:27 PM.

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07-04-2009, 05:31 PM	#4
Sir A.Y. Atoyot Drives: '08 5-door Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Surrey, BC Canada Posts: 176	The old wire looks like a fusible link to me. 8 gauge wire is thicker than 10 gauge, so you're OK there.

07-04-2009, 06:02 PM	#5
Shroomster '07 to '12:2 wipers to 1? View User's Garage Drives: '12 5-door LE & '14 5-door LE Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,999	well that's the thing, I know about gauge sizes and all but the old wire looks to be thicker than the new....unless the insulation is just thicker on the old wire....I dunno. we both knew it 'looked' smaller and both know I'm going to need to keep an eye on the splice to make sure it doesn't get too hot, but hell kinda hard to check it accurately when it's smack up against the exhaust manifold.... I'm probably not going to feel 100% comfortable until i can get to a junkyard and get that part of the wire off another car....

07-04-2009, 06:46 PM	#6
BLH Drives: 2007 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CT Posts: 271	8 AWG is heaver than 10 AWG. The smaller the number the heavier the wire. Insulation can fool you. I have seen some higher voltage rated insulation thinner than some of the lower voltage stuff. All depends on what the insulation is made of.

07-04-2009, 06:59 PM	#7
Shroomster '07 to '12:2 wipers to 1? View User's Garage Drives: '12 5-door LE & '14 5-door LE Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,999	I thought for it to be AWG gauged it has to say AWG behind the number on the wiring?

07-04-2009, 08:08 PM	#8
Revsson View User's Garage Drives: 2009 Meteorite Metallic LB MT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Wisconsin Posts: 810	I think CTScott or someone is an Electrical Engineer that might have the definitive answer. Most likely, since that car was made in Japan, that it is a Japanese standard or maybe even a Chinese manufactured cable not made to the AWG standard specifications. (AWG = American Wire Gauge)

07-04-2009, 08:11 PM	#9
Shroomster '07 to '12:2 wipers to 1? View User's Garage Drives: '12 5-door LE & '14 5-door LE Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,999	Yeah I pm'ed Scott and he got back to me and he gave me a nod so I feel better at least about this being able to sustain until I get to a junkyard or longer

07-04-2009, 08:53 PM	#10
Sir A.Y. Atoyot Drives: '08 5-door Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Surrey, BC Canada Posts: 176	Fusible links usually have rubber-looking insulation. Their function (like all fuses) is to melt when an overload occurs. You can buy fuse link wire by the foot at auto parts stores.