it would be great to watch someone do this in a shop .

it would be a good learning curve

i just don't trust myself - its the putting back together that scares me lol

 

i'm thinking the same thing , as i am running a 500W sound system

thanks for yer help

 

No wonder your alternator crapped out.........

 

not bad for over 5 years eh ?

 

Have a friend follow you so you can jump it if needs be. But I would say 45 min is pushing it. I have tried to do this before on a ford focus, and once the alternator is gone, the car just sucked power. I don't know about a fully charge battery but my initial thoughts were maybe 10 miles at the most.

 

Pete:

I have no idea where you're located but do you have a rebuilder that can rebuild your alternator or can you get a replacement? If you're in my area I can give you a couple places. If so do you know how to change it, if not and you're close I can change if for you.

Let me know.

Frank

 

get a triple a account and have them tow you for free

 

Hi Frank

Thank-you for that kind offer.

I live just south of The Science Center.

I just went down & checked under the hood...all the connections are tight & it looks like,remove a few bolts & its off

Thursday is my day off , i'll ride over to Canadian Tire on Laird & see if i can buy a replacement

I notice there is a small sticker on this one that says " remanufactured " & a date i can not read, so it appears this is not the original alternator

if it ain't raining , i will be fine, if it is raining i won't melt lol

thanks again bud !

Pete.

 

I would call ahead just to be sure it's in stock. Since it's not a stock alternator, check near the mounting bracket you should see what the present amperage of that particular alternator is. If anything you may want to go a bit higher based on your amps re stereo.

Members these days upgrate to the CS144 and go with around 140 amp but that's a story for another day since you'll have to upgrade your wiring also.

Let me know if you need any help and remember to disconnect the battery first, unless you're very comfortable with what you're doing.

EDIT:

That just reminded me that Wayne (Motorhead) and Les (AGVI) did the swap to CS144 alternator and probably have there existing 1980-82 alternators, check with them. I think Les is online right now and they're both in Mississauga.

 

dis connected the battery & pulled the alternator

sent Les a pm

checked on line -Canadian Tire (Laird) has one in stock

life is good ...so far lol

thanks for the tips Frank

 

I hope it works out for ya.

Good luck and post up should you have any problems.

 

On my 81 Silverado I threw an alternator belt at about 8:00pm. I cleared out the mess and drove all the way home about 60 miles. Hemet Cal. to N/Orange County Cal. I had no problems but the draw from a Vette may be different from a truck. When My alternator went out on my Vette I ordered a chrome one from Ecklers and it wasn't too much either. The plug was on the wrong side to I had to stretch it.

 

hi Frank

installed the new alternator this am....charged battery all day...went down & installed battery...dome lights, horn & head lights work but when i turn key , no power...suspect i have a fuse prob...will check tomorrow

 

If you can be a bit more specific it would help.


When you say no power, does this mean no headlights, horn, radio etc, or no power to the starter only?

I know this seems silly but if you have power to everthing else except the starter the first thing I would check is to be sure it's in park, yours is auto right?

I also know that chances of this is unlikely but I was thinking maybe the safety nuetral switch.

I can't remember if there is a fuse or relay for the starter or ignition.

Check the electrical connections to see if there is good contact.

 

Let us know what you find and how it's going.......we are dying to see you get this figured out and on the road all ready......come on Spocc........ur killin me....

 

If the battery cables are loose they will sometimes operated the lights but not crank the car.

 

went down to the underground this am at 5am (couldn't sleep) & pulled off battery neg & pos ...did the wire brush thing & black emery . connections are super clean & tight

checked fuses again , tried to pull a few but alas i need a fuse puller or needle nose pliers ( my back is sore now from all the bs...underground garage is like an oven,because of the humidity...very dark & slippery floor)

Nancy wondered where the h i was when she got up but she noticed

my shoes missing lol




it is in park , tried moving steering wheel up/down , horn works , dome light head light work arggg

will go back down after a few coffees & a shower


pain in *** because i live on the 35th floor

Les got back to me & has a chrome alternator for sale ...figures after i just spent over 100 at Can Tire

is there a fuse somewhere between battery & starter (other than the blasted fuse box,drivers side firewall ?

 

now its startin to **** me off but this car has done this to me before...runs perfect for many months as a DD then spend some $ on it & something else just happens to go south

i hate electrical demons because i have no formal training just flyin by seat of pants & what may or may not be logical

i'll keep at it because i hate to be beaten

 

battery is fully charged & all connections super clean & tight.

horn works , dome light works & head lights work....

i'm thinking , the last time i turned the key , when the old alternator was in the car maybe a fuse blew ???

maybe this neutral safety switch thing (does it have a fuse ?)

because all i did was purchase a new alternator, install it & charge the battery

turn key & nothing , no click nothing but dome light & horn still works ?

 

Pete:

Sorry but Mick has my car so I'm not able to come and help as Cathy has the other car.


The purpose of a safety nuetral switch is to dissengage power to the starter when the shifter is in any gear to prevent accidental starting while in gear. Sometimes when this particular switch starts to wear you can still start the car by turning the key ignition to the start/on position (as if to engage the starter) at the same time move the shifter up and down between park and drive, if the switch is worn there is a chance the car will still start.

Yes there should be either a fuse at the fuse box or an inline fuse, inline fuses are actualy in the middle of a wire run. I can't remember if your year has one.


Pete, did you disconnect the battery when you changed the alternator, reason I ask is maybe something got grounded if it wasn't disconnected and shorted?

If you don't mind can you also double check the connections on the rear of the alternator, there should be a harness and another wire that's bolted on.

If you're able, can you check for power to the starter, in order to do this you will either have to get a multimeter, or cross the terminals on the starter solenoid and just above the starter where the wires connect to? It's on the passenger side rear of the motor. You can see it at the bottom just in between the engine and transmission. If you have a multimeter, see if someone can engage the starter via the key and check for power to the starter.


When you said, "this car has done this to me before" are you refering to this particular problem or reliablility in general?