Alternator output should be amps, but (archive)

First make sure your battery is OK and you have good clean �grounds�, 1)Battery to block. Ground strap, attached 12 gauge wire from the Alt housing/casing to the Neg battery post. New block to body ground strap..
You can buy a Specific Gravity meter at a local Pep Boys or similar store for about $4.00. Maybe you might need your local Svc Station to give it a deep charge. Also, for $10.00 they can quickly check you charging system to see if it�s your Battery or Alternator.
0nce that is ruled out you can quickly rule out other certain items. You can �jump� from the Pos Bat post to pin #7 on the diagnostic plug. (which is right near the brake master cyl , this also makes a great remote starter when adjusting valvesor checking compression etc.)
If it doesn�t start when you �jump� then its probably your starter or the starter solenoid. To distinguish between those two, you can unscrew the Positive cable from the solenoid and touch it to the other big terminal on the solenoid to determine if it�s the starter or the solenoid.

If the starter turns its your solenoid, if not its probably the starter. If it starts then your problem is either the ignition switch or the starter relay, to see if it�s the relay, first disconnect the relay, which is located right behind the ignition switch ( you will need to unscrew the cover panels)it can be marked Hella and it has a bunch of female slots. Once pulled make a little jumper wire & jump slot # 87 to #30 & then turn the key, if it starts you found your culprit. This was my problem and I just left the jumper in place. If it does not start then its probably the ignition switch which plugs into the �Tumbler� (the thing you stick your key into)..
:hth john L

1975 2002, won't start unless I get it jumped- then it starts really easily. I had the alternator checked (35 watts) and battery (14+ volts).
If I disconnect the battery (neg) every time I stop then it will usually start back up (80%)- depending on how far I drove it before I parked.
How do I check the ground wire- and where do I start when looking for a bare wire. I"m car illiterate, but I'm learning.
-Thanks

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