Weird Charging issue

[XTCshri2222]

I had my altenator rebuilt about 2000 miles ago and 3yrs ago =) Just recently my battery light has started to come on, and It'll go away at 2000rpms but it will come back on at idle my car is going into power save shuting down the radio etc.. Is it this virtually new altenator took a dump already? The reason i had it rebuilt is 3yrs ago i was over charging and cooking batteries at 17 volts. I did put a new battery in and same deal light is on, but from get go, I'ed figger the battery should have reserve to keep up at 12volts for a while? I havent tested it yet, i'm 99.9% its my altenator but im here in denial. more money into the money pit.

[float_6969]

It's the alternator. It needs a new voltage regulator, which is probably the same part they replaced last time. You'll have to take it in again and have them fix it.

[bruinbear714]

The alternator has a 2-plug connector, one with a heavy gauge wire and the other with a thin wire. The thin wire goes to a 4-pin connector next to the fuse box by the battery (on s13 chassis). Make sure that 4-pin connector is connected to the proper wires.

The thin wire tells the alternator to "turn on" and operate normally. If it is unconnected, the alternator will behave weird.