Cascade Crew

[Quasi-Traction]

My generator (alternator) took a dive in the fairlane this evening. The idiot light had been flickering on and off intermittently for the last couple days or so. I was going to run out to Dewey's and get my MAF sensors back tonight, started the thing, the idiot light stayed on, drove about 15 blocks up, and decided to turn around home, got it all the way home and tried to restart it...and I just got solenoid clicking and then nothing. took the multimeter to the solenoid...tested with the key in the "run" postion. Did the same for the coil, starter, and voltage regulator. everything seemed to get voltage. Charged the battery up for about an hour and started the car. Idled for about 3 minutes and stalled. wouldn't start back up, and lights very dim. Took the generator off...and spun it.... something inside is rattles like crazy. Any idea what I might hear rattling around? If I can fix it, I will....otherwise I'll have to search for a while to find one or have mine rebuilt.

[chevymad]

Is it an alternator or a generator? If you really want to rebuild it yourself, take it apart and see how much wear is in the commutator. (where the brushes rub). If that's good then you should be able to order a rebuild kit at a good parts store. It will have bearings/bushings, brushes, and if its an alternator a diode trio. You should have an external regulator on that car too. It may even be the whole problem. There is a way to bypass it to check the alt/gen, but you'll have to look that up specific to your car. If you bypass and it charges good just buy a regulator.

[Quasi-Traction]

Thanks Brandon...it IS a generator. I've never been 100% clear about what the difference between an alternator and generator are. Don't they essencially do the same thing? I'll take it apart.....my dad mentioned that the brushes usually go on those things and he suggested that's what might be rattling around.

What's the worst I could do, break it more?

[chevymad]

A generator doesnt produce as much power as an alternator. It is basically an electric motor.. but you are turning it with the engine instead of the other way around. A generator naturally produces 12v dc.

An alternator is wired differently internally. It puts out a whole lot more amperage then a generator. An alternator produces AC current. This is then fed into the diodes. Diodes act like a one way valve for electricity. So they only allow the positive portion of the wave to pass through, thus it ends up being 12v DC.

[Quasi-Traction]

I didn't get a chance to get to it today, but tomorrow it'll have to be done (another day of work missed... )