Need to figure out why I go through soo many alts....

[slick94prix]

Yeah, cuz i'm getting sick of replacing mine what seems like every 3 months. Anyways, I'm not really doing anything wrong, or so it seems to me. All the alt's i have ever put in have been in new or like new condition. I try to avoid any puddles or deep water(in fact, i try not to drive when it's raining due to voltage fluctuations while driving).

I have upgraded the battery to block and battery to chassis grounds to 4 guage wire. All of those are good connections. My pos. terminals are all tight. The alt. cable is nice and tight as well. My engine does not run excessively hot, and if I know i am going to be sitting for a while, I will turn my car off just so i don't build up a ton of heat, while standing still, in the engine bay.

Could this be a sign of a faulty voltage regulator? Maybe i need to upgrade the battery to starter cable to a thicker wire (would probably go 4 guage)? Toss a ground cable on the alt. to the chassis? I dont know what I should do.

Friday, while I'm home for the evening, I'm stopping in at a local alt. rebuild shop with one of my bad ones to have him build me a high output alt. I'm going to see what he can do about having it cool better as well, so it doesn't burn up from excessive heat.

Any tips, things I can check, etc... is grately appreciated.

Thanks

[slick94prix]

Bueler?

Anyways, dropping the alt. off at the rebuild shop today. Maybe he can give me some insight as to what died on this one, and possibly beef up that area, along with a higher amperage output.

[Lyle's GTP]

Do you have the air vent hooked up on the back of the alternator? If you are using an alternator with the wrong rear housing, the vent won't hook on and the life of your alt will be shortened drastically.

Are you running a stereo?

Lyle

[dohcfiend]

^

beat me to it. i should copy that and paste it when i see this question again.

[Lyle's GTP]

^

beat me to it. i should copy that and paste it when i see this question again.

Be my guest.

Lyle

[slick94prix]

I've tried it with the vent on, and with the vent off. No difference.

The alt. rebuild shop wasn't open. I left it back home with my dad. He's going to drop it off someday after work this week. I told him that once they find out what was wrong with it, fix and beef up the problematic area, and up the amperage output on it as well. So... hopefully I will know within the next week what is killing my alts.

[SappySE107]

You could have a bad ground or power cable as well. I am running 4 gauge power now from the alt to the starter and to the battery. Its lasted over a year now...thats about all I know.

[eliteweapons]

A friend of mine is having the same luck with his saturn but I haven't had the chance to look into it yet. What is happening to yours? bearing failures or windings?

[spacecadetz26]

when my car would go through alternators I found two problems that helped it.

1. STOP JUMPING OTHER CARS!

2. Crusty burnt alternator power wire. I cut a section out, replaced it and used a nice heavy duty copper terminal and filled the terminal with solder using shrink tube and tape to keep it dry. Also make sure your connection at the starter is good.

[Lyle's GTP]

I'd just get a beefed up alternator. 160 amps + are readily available at reasonable prices. Then upgrade your cables. Go from the Alt. to the battery with at least 4 guage. Then run a separate 4 guage cable from the battery to the starter. Because on your car it probably goes from tha battery to the starter then to the alt. Plus make sure your grounds are good. You need a solid chassis to battery ground and at the same point, run another to the engine. Make sure your grounds are at least the same guage as your positive.

A side note on spacecadetz26 comment on jump starting. It is highly not rcommeded that you even start your car while jumping. Your battery has more than enough power to start the other car.

Lyle

[slick94prix]

Guess my next project will be running 4 guage wires for the pos. cables. Should I throw a fuse inline from the battery to the alt?

[Doubt_Incarnate]

where are you getting alternators? i dont have a dohc but i found that not shopping at autozone or advance leads to not replacing the same part often. my 2.8 went through like 3-4 alternators in a couple years, and more than a few coils and icm's. oh yeah a few starters too.

[slick94prix]

I've tried different alts from all sorts of different places, so thats not really the issue either.

I'm going to go ahead and redo some of the wiring with a larger guage wire. My only concern is should I throw an inline fuse in the line that will run from the battery to the alt? And if so, how large?

BTW, I should find out tomorrow what killed this last alt.

[Dave96z34]

My only concern is should I throw an inline fuse in the line that will run from the battery to the alt?

No need for a fuse. You prob just have some lose connections and you must run that cooling duct.

[Lyle's GTP]

I'm going to go ahead and redo some of the wiring with a larger guage wire. My only concern is should I throw an inline fuse in the line that will run from the battery to the alt? And if so, how large?

You should use a fuseable link inline with your alternator. A fuse isn't really feasable with an alternator. Because your alternator can spike current for a few moments when loaded, some times over a couple hundred amps. I've heard that alternators have a "fuse" built inside but it's only their so your car doesn't burn down if your alternator shorts out. But if it blows you'd have to pull your alternator again.

I didn't use a fuseable link with mine. It's unlikely, but if something happens I can only blame myself. But I did all the connections really good and loomed all wires and tied them away from all heat sources and abrasive contacts. So, I guess it is as safe as can be.

Your call.

Lyle