Purpose of pin connector in alternator?

Another week another problem. I love my car and all, buit the constant weariness of something breaking is killing me and my wallet.

Alternator died on the way to work, managed to limp it there and pick up one from the local auto parts store at lunch. Right after work I started to replace it. However, when I pulled out the alt ( this is my second time, it had been getting soaked by an overflowing p/s resovoir, which I have already fixed) I saw that the single pin wire connnetor going into the alt had been cut somehow, right above the connector. Didn't feel it break when I pulled the alt but figured it could have happened then, but still not sure The thick power line is ok so I figured that the pin connector was just something related to the SES or something and not needed to get my ass back home, since it would still be charging. Didn't work out that way. Started her up and the gauge was still in red. If the pin connector was a sensor wire it wouldn't read anything at all, or I would have thrown a code. Still tried to get home and got about a mile before everything started shutting down and I had to get it towed home (putting a crack in my front lip :mad: ) The new alt is in so why isn't it getting the charge? Is it because of the pin connector, if so what is it's purpose?

I believe the pin connector is some kind of sensor wire. Basically like a switch. I know the dash gauge reads from it. I had the same problem with my suburban. I forgot to hook the pin wire up and the new alt. was not charging. When I hooked it up everything was fine.
I would check to see if maybe you broke the wire.

yeah, it was severed. I was hoping it was just an unneccesary dash sensor so I could as least drive it, but when I started it up wiht the new alt in the gauge worked fine. So, since yours wouldn't work without it installed, then that is definently the problem. The problem is that the wire was severed too close to the connector to solder to now I need to find a new one somewhere. Thanks for the post.