Broken Alternator?????
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 159
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From: Delanson NY
Broken Alternator?????
I recently (2 weeks back) broke the housing on my alternator when I started the car when leaving the mall. Unfortunately, I had to get towed home and fortunately for me the alternator was a lifetime warranty one from PepBoys. Problem?? 2 weeks passes and when I arrive home tonight from work I notice the car feels really sluggish, I pop the hood and the alternator is broke again. The lower portion of the housing cracked and it is now crooked thus causing my loss in power... Anybody else have this problem? Or is there a fix to keep from happening again or is it just a lousy alternator???? Please advise and as always Thanks for the help!!!
FRED
FRED
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Re: Broken Alternator????? (ONEBAD89)
Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer, but if you are cracking the alternator housing that probably is a belt alignment problem, or a syptom of misalignment.
I'll have to look at mine in the AM to remember exactly where the support points are.
Jack
I'll have to look at mine in the AM to remember exactly where the support points are.
Jack
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Re: Broken Alternator????? (ONEBAD89)
:seeya
I have done this 3 times!!!!
First time I broke the alt in 2.
Second, broke the alt in 3 and the smog pump/alt bracket in 2. I think it was cracked and I was driving it around on its last leg. it broke in pieces when I started it just like you.
Last time my alt quit charging, while replaced it and found the smog pump/alt bracket cracked.
I decided to go with the BPP smog pump eliminator since I was busting the bracket a lot.
I also have a few engine mods, and when I broke it the 2nd and 3rd time, I was beating on it real hard. Like downshifting it into 2nd gear at 55-65 (I can get a bit over 70 in 2nd) at WOT. Yes, I was beating it!
I had the bracket re welded. it was tough, the welder said the cast is crap! I picked up 2 more brackets to be ready, and plan on using the smog pump eliminator for the mean time.
BTW, is there a black steel support bar on the smog pump/alt bracket that goes between the 2 bolts that hold the bracket on the head/engine?
If it has been worked on before a lazy mechanic might have left it off...
How about the alt to exhuast manifold brace?
and I think there is on one the back of the smog pump to the inatke manifold as well.
[Modified by bill mcdonald, 6:14 PM 6/28/2002]
I have done this 3 times!!!!
First time I broke the alt in 2.
Second, broke the alt in 3 and the smog pump/alt bracket in 2. I think it was cracked and I was driving it around on its last leg. it broke in pieces when I started it just like you.
Last time my alt quit charging, while replaced it and found the smog pump/alt bracket cracked.
I decided to go with the BPP smog pump eliminator since I was busting the bracket a lot.
I also have a few engine mods, and when I broke it the 2nd and 3rd time, I was beating on it real hard. Like downshifting it into 2nd gear at 55-65 (I can get a bit over 70 in 2nd) at WOT. Yes, I was beating it!
I had the bracket re welded. it was tough, the welder said the cast is crap! I picked up 2 more brackets to be ready, and plan on using the smog pump eliminator for the mean time.
BTW, is there a black steel support bar on the smog pump/alt bracket that goes between the 2 bolts that hold the bracket on the head/engine?
If it has been worked on before a lazy mechanic might have left it off...
How about the alt to exhuast manifold brace?
and I think there is on one the back of the smog pump to the inatke manifold as well.
[Modified by bill mcdonald, 6:14 PM 6/28/2002]
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Delanson NY
Re: Broken Alternator????? (bill mcdonald)
I already have the BPP aftermarket smog pump eliminator on the car and I do regularly beat on the car which may have been the cause, but 1 lasted three years and the second only two weeks. Any aftermarket heavyduty types forsale and where?????? Thanks Again!
FRED
FRED
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,183
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria, CA
Re: Broken Alternator????? (ONEBAD89)
That's amazing.
What's to happen to us guys that are using headers and haven't gotten around to fabbing up some brackets? :eek: I need to get some made up.
What's to happen to us guys that are using headers and haven't gotten around to fabbing up some brackets? :eek: I need to get some made up.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
I've got my 5th lifetime warranty pepboys unit in the car now. I broke 3 because of my smog eliminator kit not being aligned right. Right now I'm running the eliminator and no rear brace (hooker headers) and it is all lined up and working fine so far. Appears straight after many 6000 RPM blasts and is still pumping out 14.2 volts. Maybe I got lucky with this one after the others. :)
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Lindenhurst IL
cheap alternators / 200 amp alternators
If anyone needs good prices on alternator rebuild kits or complete alternators, I found my parts here:
http://www.alternatorparts.com
I got a complete rebuild kit for my 84 and it raises the amps to 105 for only 30.00!!
http://www.alternatorparts.com
I got a complete rebuild kit for my 84 and it raises the amps to 105 for only 30.00!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 863
Likes: 0
From: Portsmouth,Va USA
Re: (scorp508)
I am definately not mechanically inclined, but I just replaced mine..surprized myself.....
I had a brace bar from the rear and it seemed to be a well supported unit.
Don't know if yours had that support or not.
Good luck..
I had a brace bar from the rear and it seemed to be a well supported unit.
Don't know if yours had that support or not.
Good luck..
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