Cascade Crew

STEEL · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:33 pm Post subject: Oh fantanstic! (Stupid GM)

So, I been getting the feeling my alternator was getting ready to go bye-bye for a few weeks now. I kept telling myself I was wrong, but I was right. Last night, I am leaving work for a Halo 3 party, I look at the dash, and the voltmeter is quickly dropping. So, its 8:30 at night, I wasnt sure if shucks was still going to be open, but I pull up, and the car dies. (Unlike a carbed car, the engine dies before the headlights if your running TBI, that surprised me)

They were closed, so I got a ride to the party with a buddy and came back to the car this morning. I have a socket set in my car from back at cows when Al needed to change out his Alt. Little did I know that they were torque head bolts.

WHY!?!?!?!

Why would GM have put torque head bolts on the Alternator? Thats STUPID. It made me mad!

(So did the $90 alternator)

Either way, its fixed. Now I need to swap out those bolts, but I don't get why they were torque head to start with....

Dewey316 · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject:

Thirdgen ownership rule #6. Keep torx bits in the glove box, you will need them.

Glad to hear you did get it fixed though.

--John

aaron_sK · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:21 pm Post subject:

QwkTrip · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:36 pm Post subject:

Glad you got it sorted out anyway. The engine probably died because the engine ECM shuts down when voltage drops below 6V or somewhere in that territory. Still got lights, however dim, but you aren't going anywhere. Wink

Just as well because if the batteries discharge enough they will sulfate and die an early death. So on the positive side, you didn't have to replace a battery too! Good ol' SMART GM! Very Happy

DBL_TKE · Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:38 pm Post subject:

Yeah I know what you mean. When I broke my window switch and automatic shifter knob in the same day I soon realized the hard way that I didn't own a torx bit set. Got stuck with a car that had its drivers window down overnight in the rain and wouldn't stay in park/drive, etc. Wasn't a fun weekend.

Demon · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 6:25 pm Post subject:

I still keep a torx set in my car and even a few standard sockets here and there, even though 98% of the car is metric, there are still those little odds and ends that make you go "Oh... ok..."