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Alternator AGAIN

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MadRiver

MadRiver

Jedi Knight
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Alas. Greenie's new alternator worked perfectly for all of three days. I parked the car tonight and while idling, the ignition light came on. I goosed the engine, and it stayed on. I put on the lights and the ammeter read a slight discharge, and goosed the engine again, and the ignition light stayed on and the ammeter didn't move to charge or the middle.

Can all of these alternators be no good, or is there something in Greenie that's eating them? An intermittant short somewhere perhaps?

Also, I have yet to install the new voltage regulator -- it got burried in a previous post somewhere, but the markings on the replacement regulator from Moss don't match up with the existing markings on my original regulator. It has four blades -- The original is marked (in this order):

B+ + F -

The replacement is marked as follows:

[no marks] + - F

I presume to use the replacement regulator, I would have to switch the - and the F wires on the plug that goes into the regulator. Thoughts?
 
Are you using a original alt or did you convert to a stronger one. I bought an original replacement from bluechips on ebay and have had no problems with it.
 
Check and make sure nothing came loose since the new alternator install. Is the light still on with the key off again or just on while running but not charging? Sorry, I have no idea about your replacement regulator markings. Is the battery holding a charge? Bad battery cell(s)?
 
This may or may not help but this came to mind. I had a car that would eat regulators. Found out the battery was bad. It would try to charge the battery all the time. Hey, it's worth a look. $0.02 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
This may or may not help but this came to mind. I had a car that would eat regulators. Found out the battery was bad. It would try to charge the battery all the time. Hey, it's worth a look. $0.02 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree with Mailman, but I am Baffled why Alty's would Fail under such constaint strains???

Review Dad's article here --> https://www.vtr.org/maintain/alternator/conversions.shtml for Clues... There are Too Many
Clues in this Room ;-)

(Gordon Lightfoot)
 
Thanks guys. I'm not sure what's going on either. The one thing is that they're all rebuilt alternators. I think it could just be bad luck, b/c they've all had slightly different problems as follows:

1. original alternator -- had been on Greenie from new. Was charging fine but bearings gradually started making noise, and then eventually whined like crazy and started emitting smoke. So, clearly bearings.

2. Replacement #1 simply didn't work from the moment I installed it. No charge at all. I think it was simply a dud.

3. Replacement #2 had a diode problem that prevented the regulator from operating, so it was overcharging.

4. Replacement #3 worked perfectly for two days until last night, when all of a sudden the ignition light came on, wouldn't go off and then I heard a distinct grinding or crunching sound from the alternator, so I think something might simply have gone wrong.

I really *hope* that this isn't something deeply wrong with Greenie, but I think it's just bad luck. We'll see. I'll be adding replacement #4 next week. Thankfully, all of the shops have been standing behind their products. The next step is also to replace the bearings on Greenie's original alt.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Can you find a local electric motor rewind shop to work on the original alt?

[/ QUOTE ]

Trying to find one -- hopefully I'll locate someone close by.
 
There has to be one in dwntwn Balti. or the East end. There is almost always one to be found in most ind. parks or the ship chandler areas.
You certainly won't find one in Columbia Md.unless you can find a street name like "Unwind Lane" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif !
 
You might try this link to the Electrical Rebuilders Association. On the left side click on "Rebuilder Locator". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif
 
Tomster:

My all time favorite street name in Comumbia
was "The Bowl"

At one time it was a model home park for new sales.
The residents tried for years to get Howard Co. to change the name.

D
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Can you find a local electric motor rewind shop to work on the original alt?

[/ QUOTE ]

Trying to find one -- hopefully I'll locate someone close by.

[/ QUOTE ]If you can't find anything in the phone book, start checking auto parts stores; first an established independent (if there is such a thing left in your area), then with larger established NAPA stores -- and also independent auto repair shops. SOMEONE will know who in the area is a good rebuilder!
 
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