[Johnny O]

Hey guys and gals....I just put the 4th alternator in my chevelle in the last 2 months....the next to the last one lasted about 5 minutes!! They are all regulator problems, the charge rate is OK when you first start the car (usually!) but then starts to fluctuate when you drive...one went up to 18 volts (the lights were great!!) then down to 10 volts...then the alternator seized up and by belt flew apart....made it back home just before I overheated. Then one I just took off last night lasted about 3 weeks, but had some sort of short inside which was draining my battery when the car was parked...after only 4 days, the battery was completely dead (optima red top, 1 year old) They are 100 amp, lifetime warranty's from Advance Auto, so its not costing me more money, just aggrevation....Could it be that quality is just so bad these days, or is it the car? There is only a simple connection, and I checked all my wiring thats related, and no problems. I just wondered if anyone else is having problems with alternators and starters. Thanks....John

 

[Peter F.]

Wow;

I would think that not charging and seizing up are two completely different problems so maybe it is the rebuild quality.

The alternator dying electrically could be due to something drawing too much current. I would think you'd be seeing burnt wires or blown fuses by now though. The discharge while parked is probably a bad diode in the rectifier.

I honestly can't think of much to suggest. Maybe take another really close look at the wiring harness for bare wires or "funny" spots.

Peter

 

[Terry krook]

Johnny. A friend of mine owns an auto parts store, and a while ago I had to but a new alternator for my truck. He was quite a bit more expensive than the local Napa store. Turns out there are two terms. Rebuilt, or reconditioned. Rebuilt is just that. Totally rebuilt. A reconditioned alternator is taken apart, and just the parts that need replacing are done. They have had too many returns on reconditioned ones and will not sell them. This may not be your problem, but just a thought.

 

[Wes V]

After having to replace 4 of them, I think it's reasonable to ask for your money back. Then go to a different store that gets them from someplace else.

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Wes. Vann
Technical Reference section
Gold Member #5

 

[Johnny O]

Thanks guys...I would think the seizing up thing was just a fluke, not related to the charging problem...and I agree with all of you. Wes, thats just what I told the guy at Advanced Auto, that I would try this one more, but next time Im in here, it will be for a refund...I'll go to a better unit from another company. Im going down to the garage now to put it in, so I'll keep you informed. Thanks again, John

 

[DjD]

The guy I bought my car from was throwing batteries away because they wouldn't hold a charge. I found the wires coming from the regulator were reversed. This caused no charging and when I took the alt apart it was burnt inside. You may well be plagued with repetative bad parts but my money says you have another problem...

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...Dennis
www.camaroslimited.com

 

[leeds]

what is the voltage at the battery, should be about 14v with car running. also is the voltage regulator working? sounds like there is another problem