Cascade Crew

J-Dog-III · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 10:42 am Post subject: Alternator Help

So i noticed the other night that my volatage was really low so my buddy hopped in and we were going to schmucks like 2 mins away to go buy an alternator. In the middle of the turn lane *poof* alternator goes out end up having to push the car all the way back to the end of a long ass turn lane to park it at an am/pm. SO i bought a alternator that night put it it and it wasnt clocked right. took it back schucks tried clocking it and fucked it up and gave me my money back.
Next day i go to napa and buy an alternator. Put it in and it's barely keeping enought charge on for a surface charge on the battery.
Does anyone know how many amps the Alternator is that i need, because all the ones they keeps selling me arent high enough. BTW im driving a 1986 Iroc 5.0 TPI

Dewey316 · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 10:49 am Post subject:

Have you tried a diffrent battery? Are you sure its an alternator issue now? I think stock they are only like 80-90amps, if that. Unless you have something aftermarket that is draining a lot of power, you shouldn't need more than a stock replacement.

Al Hasse · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:09 pm Post subject:

CS130 should be stock and normally rated at 105 amp. That is to keep up with the demand from power windows and A/C if so equipped. I would also check the battery like John says.

Sellmanb · Member Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 727 Location: Tigard, OR

is your serpentine belt stretched? Or if you have V-belts, are they at the right tension?

Make sure that the battery positive and negative bolts are tight as well.

Sounds like something else is going on besides the alternator if you've run through 2 of them now.

iansane · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:43 pm Post subject:

I'd be looking at wiring as well. Make sure you're getting a proper ignition 12v to the alternator so it's actually 'turning on'

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:08 pm Post subject:

I vote battery or connections.

Sellmanb · Member Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 727 Location: Tigard, OR

you can run a voltage drop test from the alternator to battery positive terminal. If you have more than .5v's then the positive cable is bad. You should also check the voltage output directly out the back terminal of the alternator, should be around 14v's, this should cross out bad alternator from your list.

If you dont have a digital multimeter, now is the time to buy one, they are an invaluable tool when you start running into electrical problems/driveability problems, or much of any other problems.

iansane · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject:

BigDaddyVu · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:05 am Post subject:

usually if the alternator went bad due to a faulty battery. also check and replace the side bolt connecters with new ones they should be bright silver the rubber coating on the side connectors store water there and corrode the conections. if you don't want to replace them right away. a quick fix is just cut the rubber ring off and use a wire wheel on a drill to clean up the connectors and coat them in dielectic greese. other things that could bring on a current drain if your ignition switch isn't properly aligned (which happen to my t/a) and the power ant. relay if power ant is broken and dosen't make noise dosen't mean the power ant. relay is charged disconnect the two sides.

LB985IROC · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject:

alternators do not charge the battery they maintain a constant voltage and a little more for when you are putting a heavy load on it if your battery died it needs a full charge and a load test to make sure its still good you need to do this soon because a low battery will toast your new alternator ....too much pull

J-Dog-III · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:10 am Post subject:

I know for a fact that its the alternator. I pulled it and had it tested the same night and it was bad. Not it's not the connections and No it's not the battery. I just put a 108 amp alternator in and everythings charging at 13.5Volts

STEEL · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:15 am Post subject:

J-Dog-III · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:30 am Post subject:

When my dad bought the car the battery was toast . so i went out and bought a brand new one and that was maybe 5-6 months ago

Xophertony · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:59 am Post subject:

sounds like your all set. but if THIS alternator goes out soon, look to other things for a solution. Smile

Quasi-Traction · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:42 am Post subject:

J-Dog,

Does the car start and run now? if so:

Do your lights flare/dim at all on acceler/Decler?

I'd start checking all the grounds to your charging system and the condition of the wires themselves, make sure they're all tight and the shielding on the wire isn't crimped or damaged.

Did you check the cells on the battery and make sure they have plenty of water (unless they're a "maintainance free" battery)? A load test on the 5-6mo old batter might not be a bad idea, and might save the cost of replacing it if you haven't already.

LB985IROC · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:28 pm Post subject:

it doestn matter how new your battery is if it drained way down it needs to be charged it may be charging at 13.5 but once you turn the car off it goes down way lower if its undercharged also try turning on all the accesories ie. heater, lights, stereo and then check it. i see this all the time at work if your alt dies and it drains the battery then it will need to be charged or if its old replaced.

Al Hasse · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:39 pm Post subject:

My alternator died on the way to cows last summer, fortunately I was prepared and had another in the car. I was down to 10 volts when I was able to put the spare in, after a jump-start, it took 120 miles of 60+ mph driving to get the voltage up to 13.5.

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

iansane · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 6:43 am Post subject:

Al Hasse · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:26 am Post subject:

I did hold off with the heater for the first 60 or so miles, when I did turn it on, the volt meter dropped back down to 11 volts or so from just over 12. I took the rest of the trip to get up to 13.5.