Below are two alternators - the left one came from my car and it's a Bosch; the right one I bought used from someone who had it in their 240 wagon and I don't know who made it.




My question is about the cable connections. For reference, below are the four cables I found in the area. Note that the thin dark one was not connected to anything.



My old alternator had the following cables connected to it:



The new one doesn't match the old one perfectly. Here's a close-up of it - note the extra spade terminal and the "W" letter embedded in it:



So, my questions are:
- Can I use this new alternator?
- If so, do I hook the same three cables in the same way as the old one was?
- What about the think black wire?
- What is the extra spade terminal on the new alternator for?
--
Mike F - 1984 244 DL - 265,000 miles
Original engine, transmission, drive train, alternator, starter
Undergoing reconstructive surgery with POR-15