We can't seem to connect ac to new alternator ?

Trying to do some fact finding before buying a new alternator. I have searched this site and can't find any relevant info about this. My husband disconnected the ac from our 1998 cavalier for reasons we can't remember, but it was working well at the time but there was a reason, sorry, neither of us recall. Then sometime after that we ended up having to replace the alternator and now some time has passed and i want my ac back lol Problem is, the new alternator doesn't seem to have a connection for the ac. So my question is, can we get an alternator that will connect with the ac or can this one connect but he just can't find it or ? Hope this is enough info, thanks!
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Mr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
These two components don't connect directly. Your AC compressor is actuated by an electrical connector to the AC clutch on the compressor. This connector is fed from the wiring harness, and the AC wiring goes into the fuse box at some point, as well as into the AC controls on your dash.
So to activate your AC, you're going to have to plug in the connector to the AC compressor, and then see if your dashboard switch will active that compressor clutch.5 -
momof2plus1 Member Posts: 5
I appreciate your response, thank you. What you are saying makes complete sense and my husband agreed however after looking again, the wire that would apparently connect to the ac compressor, that appears to be coming from the wiring harness/fuse box does not reach nor does there seem to be anywhere on the ac compressor for this male end wire/connector to fit into or a wire connector coming off of it. My husband has been inside out and upside down looking for where to connect this wire and it just isn't so lol He swears when he disconnected it that he did so from the alternator ? and he says he swears the alternator had (on the old one) the spot to connect the battery too and then the spot just opposite that on the same side that this ac wire would connect too. I will try and get a picture to post of the situation for better communication of what i'm saying in case i'm not relaying quite correctlyThank you
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momof2plus1 Member Posts: 5
Oh boy, so sorry the pic is so big. So what my husband is holding is what he had disconnected from what he swears was the alternator. Thanks for any more advice you might have5 -
Mr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
I would really need a wiring diagram to say more about this. Does the AC compressor have a connector currently plugged into it?
Here's a picture of a Cavalier AC compressor. You can see where the connector plugs into the black female connector on the right side.
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