Bean's Cam

OK, I just recently bought my car off one of my friends. He told me he just put in a new alternator. Well I drive my car yesterday and i notice the battery gauge below the half mark. It wasn't stayin charged. So when I got home I turned one everything in my car and the battery seems like its dead...the radio is going in and out. I shut it off and try to start it up again and it just clicks...I think battery. Well I go out the next morning and it starts up....so I wonder about the alternator i run the car abit then check the alternator and its hotter than hell! And it smells real bad. Im guessin the alternator. Can anyone tell me what it could be or whats wrong with the alternator?

Joe_L

Take the alternator off. Its a 10 minute job, and have it tested. Testings of alternators are usually free. That will tell you if it is dead or not.

If it isn't dead, try the plug in, my car when I bought it wouldn't charge either and one of the wires had broke off that was in the plug in. The solution buy a new plug in.

Bean's Cam

I plan on taking it off and having it checked. All the wiring to it is fine, I have checked that...I was going to drive it to get the Alt. tested but the smell coming from the alt. was so bad I didnt want to risk it. I just want to know is it was brand new....how did it good bad so fast and whats wrong with it.

c-5invalid

joe j what about a voltage regulator?

Joe_L

"new" is what someone usally says when they put on a part whether it is old or not, for 50 he could have bought a used one. If it is new most have atleast 1 year warrnety, and some have 2-5 years. He should be able to prove it.

C-valid, the Voltage regualtor is usually what goes in them if I am correct.

Bean's Cam

It was new though and we asked where he got he said Auto Zone. But, they said they dont have him in records so knowing my friend he was to drunk to remember where he got it anyways.

nothingssafe

my alternator was only 3 months old when the voltage regulator went. they are internal on our cars. i took it back to the dealer and they said that its relaly relaly common in f-body alltenators because of the higher voltage.

elevario

I think auto zone and checker just rebuild old alternators. My car has went through like 3 alternators in the past 5 months. The first two died within the first 2 months (And they looked new) and the next one I got has lasted 3 months without a problem (and this one had scratches and a little dirt on it!! I think when they rebuild them, they just replace the broken part. Meanwhile all the other parts are getting some high miles on them! That's why I think the alternators go to crap.

KED85

I got a rebuilt alternator by Autolite, which is Ford.
I got it at Kragen.
I paid about $110.
The internal alternator in my old one failed.
This Autolite has been flawless over a year, now.
Rebuilding Alternators is so easy.
It's replacing the bearings in the casing/housing that stinks.

Bean's Cam

Would any one know how many Amps a v6 88 5 speed Camaro should produce? Like the guy wants to know how many amps, I have no clue does anyone else?

87RS402

I've rebuilt my last 2 myself.
I paid $25 each for the rebuild kit.
It only takes about an hour if you take your time.
The next one I'm going to polish with my dremel while it's apart.

Karl, with all the skill you have I'm suprised you haven't started rebuilding them yourself? I'm at the point I can do one in 30 min or less and it doesn't take any special tools other than a straight piece of coathanger or similar wire about 3" long. In all reality if you can take the alternator off by yourself you have the ability to rebuild it yourself.

KED85

I rebuild them and hop them up for my older 1967-1974 cars.
When the alternator on my 1985 Firebird went, I had a choice.
I chose the more expensive, true.
BUT, with every other part of this car I bought, the foundation part was compromised on and the longevity wasn't there.
Thus, I bite the bullet & bought a Hi-Quality rebuilt.
Atleast it hasn't failed for over 2 years now. And I do have a lifetime warranty. Less effort for myself on some of my projects.

CaliCamaroRS

Most stock alt's produce a maximum of approx. 100-110 amps. When I check an alternator all i do is make sure it can produce 100 amps.

I Cant Drive 55

I just replaced the alternator on my 97 lumina ,boy was that fun. I put a rebuilt alt . from Excel rebuilds. The car has 60k on it, I bought it with 19k. When I replaced the alt. I noticed it had an AC Delco rebuilt alternator on it , so it had been changed before.
The old GM alternators were virtually indestructable, I guess they are not as dependable as they used to be.

1991tealRSt-topGuy

also make sure your belts arent too tight-----guarnteed bearing failure


check your alternator for how many amps it is-------it usually says right on it

Drew

iTrader: (58)

A few things...

You don't have to take the alternator or the battery out of the car to have them tested. Most shops have a portable tester they can bring out to the parking lot.

If your problem is intermittent (only happens 1 out of 3 times) if its not occuring exactly when they test the car, its not going to find a problem.

You can rebuild all the alternators that GM used in fbodies from 82-92, but the later style kits don't replace everything and in my case the problems were still present after the rebuild.

You can get a Delco (GM) alternator and some parts stores, or from GM for not that much more than the chain stores, and it'll work so much better you'll never regret it.

Bean's Cam

Well, it was the altenator. I had it checked at Auto Zone and it was bad. So, I just bought a brand new one because it has a life time warranty. Thanks to everyone for their help.