Mini MPI Wiring Help!

[paulodivichio]

Hi Guys,

Just asking for a bit of advice about a problem I'm having, I'm not very good with the electrics on cars so apologies if I ask silly questions! Basically I bought an MPI about a year ago, it had been bodged a bit, needed bits of work doing to it which has been carried out as a rolling restoration. The car was recently in the body shop having a new front end put on (new front panel, wings, scuttle, a panels), but when I got it back the battery wasn't charging. Now, I've checked all the earths and they are all secure, the car starts and runs fine just doesn't charge the battery. I had the alternator tested and the auto electrician said the stator had gone in it, he said it was unusual and asked had I done anything strange with it...?

To cut a long story short I fitted a new alternator and the problem is still there however after a bit of testing, I realised that the main wire to/from the alternator has corroded and snapped off at the starter motor. Now, I know for a fact this wire has always been like that while I have owned the car (I know this 100%), so how has the battery been being charged?

So two questions really, is there a common "bodge" to reconnect the alternator somewhere else? (altho the rest of the wiring looks in good condition) and secondly, when I touch the broken cable to the connector, the engine stutters and nearly stalls... if i reconnect it am I going to set my mini on fire? lol

Picture below shows the alternator wire (red) and this should connect where the blue and green wires connect...

Thanks in advance guys!

[cpas]

Are you definitely sure it came off the terminal you are trying to connect it to? May be worth checking for voltage (ie if it's live or earth voltage) and doing the same with the terminal on the starter. You may be trying to inadvertently connect the live feed from the alternator to the earth side of the battery or vice versa.

[GTRMikie]

According to the Haynes wiring diagram (and my wife's MPI), there should be 4 wires attached to the starter motor. A single brown/red wire connects to the terminal on the starter solenoid (that's the little "cylinder" on top of the starter motor). The three other wires (Black, Red and Brown) all connect to the same terminal on the starter motor itself (the brown wire is the one that eventually connects to the alternator as a brown/purple wire)

If you don't have this set up, then someone has been messing around and you may need an auto-electrician to sort it out!