when i look at the haynes manual for the 240 it shows the charging system is very simple, when i see it in my car, it doesnt work and i dont know why... I bought a 1987 240 recently and the charging system is not working and i dont know what it could be. Ive replaced the alternator, and its working, except it doesnt have the external capacitor anymore, but autozone said it passed both with and without the cap installed. The battery, also, has been replaced and the thing will not charge. The current is about 12 and falls down when the car is running, you can either test across the terminals of the battery or from the alternator to the ground. I used an ohm meter on the cable that comes off the case to the ground, got 0 resistance, from the battery to the positve part of the alternator, and got 0 ohm resistance, i dont know what else to check... also when the car is running, the charging system lights (the four of em) do not come on, which makes me wonder what the car is thinking?

 

Does the Battery light on the Dash work?

 

ya, at least the 4 of them work if u put the car into run without starting it, so everything is on (a/c, radio) and such, the lights will go on, but then running i get no cluster of lights

 

Ok wanted to make sure the Battery light worked. If not then it won't charge.

The light bulb completes the circuit.

Does the Small wire at the Alt. have power when the car is running?

 

ya its got the same as the battery (~12 v) from a charged battery

 

I would really check the Harness good in the engine bay.
Try to find the wire in the Plug and make sure you have power there.