Of course I am able to take out the entire old wiring harness and put the new one in.... but there is one left over ground! I know it goes somewhere around the alternator area but I am unsure as to where exactly it goes. I took a guess as to where I thought it was supposed to go but the bolt was still tight... Im stumped. Right now how I have it reconnected it looks like this:

Alternator->bolt->ground wire->another bolt

Is this right? Does anyone have a diagram of the alternator and/or the engine wiring harness?

:impatient :impatient :impatient :impatient :impatient :impatient

 

I posted in my gallery what I had for the starting and charging system from my Haynes (01-05) manual. PLEASE let me know if this is what you need. Imagine, the first image in my gallery is to render assistance to a fellow Mini-ite!!! Cheers!

 

Thanks but its not quite what Im looking for. I'm looking for the main engine wiring loom.... the one that connects the alternator, injectors, all the sensors etc etc. I just need to know where the hell the big guy that runs down to the alternator goes.... Im not sure if it is a ground or a power lead. This is my only guess but sandwiching the connector in between two bolts seems weird to me. Not to mention it looks like it is almost touching the block.

 

I just spent 20 minutes with the Bentlley manual which was not very helpful. From experience on other cars, I say you have it hooked up correctly and that it is normal to sandwich the connector between two nuts.

That big guy is the main power buss to the rest of the car which the manual labeled as the "B+ connector". It's usually the largest gauge wire in the car. It shows up later in the few diagrams in this manual as the B+ Connector up by the air filter (MCS) or Battery (MC) which you can use to jump start the car if the battery is dead.

You certanly don't want that connector touching the block. I would try loosening it and rotating it 45 degrees clockwise to move it way from the block. Since the alternator doesn't move when the car is running, you aren't in danger of it making contact but I would rotate it around to give it a little more clearance.

 

I just looked at your pictures again. From the second picture, it looks like there is a tab on the connector that curves back toward the alternator. If I had to guess, that tab is meant to keep the connector from rotating. Is there a slot or something on the alternator where this tab should go. Judging from the picture, you may already have it in the right spot and rotating it 45 degrees like I suggested is not possible.

 

Yea, the tab does stop it from rotating but I just had it on there sideways a bit. We rotated it and checked continuity with a voltmeter and everything looks AOK. Now I just gotta cross my fingers when I start the car sometime this week I can't wait to get this car running again! Its been a flippin YEAR now

 

I'll bet you are. I have not driven my MCS for three weeks not because it's broken but because I am. I tore my Achilles tendon playing basketball and have been on crutches since. It's my left foot so I can drive an automatic but not the Mini. My wife on the other had seems to like the trade. I may have trouble getting the car back from her but that's not something I need worry about for many more weeks.

Happy motoring!

 

ouch sorry to hear about that. You should have made her sign something saying that she has to give it back when your heel is better. Good luck getting it back.

 

did u ever find out I’m looking for the same thing