Hi,

I am getting a bit sick of CS-130 alts. In 2.5 years of ownership I have lost 4 of them. I did rebuild one and it is ready for installation but I have no trust in it. Oh why didn't I replace it with a better one!! #¤%!#¤!%!!!!

It is IMO totally unbelievable why GM have not fixed this problem early in CS-130 production. They must have had some knowledge that there will be problems. This almost feels intentional as the design is really bad compared to older models.

CS-130 usually dies because overheating but also a bad battery can overstress them. My battery seems to work just fine, my car starts perfectly after a week (when I come back from a business trip). Haven't tried longer pauses though.

Any opinions?

ToniH

 

i had a custom built alternator built for my car.its been on for 2 years with no headaches plus chrome looks better. :D

 

I feel your pain!!! Been through this myself...its not a question of will the alternator break or not,its WHEN!!

Whatever the failure that can go wrong with these units,Ive had them.Overheating,bearing failures,case cracking,and the plastic blade inside grenaded on a alternator just a few months old.

Most of these were even a/c delco remanufactured units.

I really dont know what else to say except that these C4 units dont seem to be built to last and youre prety much stuck with them unless you upgrade to the newer style unit.

One of the forum members here,I forget who it was,I think BBA or somebody,upgraded his system to the alternator that came on the 96 models.Had to do a little work to make it come together.I may do this someday if I have ore problems.I think one or two of the wires need to be upgraded and the alternator itself needs a little filing to make it fit in the brackets.
Supposedly its a better unit and may be a worthwhile upgrade.Another claim was the alternator had better voltage output and was holding a charge with the battery alot better.

Good Luck and sorry If I didnt really answer your post more directly.Many of us forum members have gone through this alternator problems several times already.

:)

 

Thanks for your sympathy.

I have heard that the alt used in ZR-1's is very much trouble free and only reguires very minor filing to fit. Any confirmation to this?

Any other plug and play or almost so alternatives I have? CS-144?

Thanks,

Toni

 

I think I'm on #5 or 6 in 2.5 years. I just recently bought another lifetime warranty one as a spare to have for trips.

 

I put in an alternator that is for the 96 LT-1. It's 140 AMPS, I had to do some minor filing on the upper bracket and install a larger charging terminal connector. ( Actually I replaced the whole wire with heavy stuff ).

It sure holds voltage better...especially when the car idles at 500 RPM and the AC/lights are on.

 

go with the lifetime warranty 140 A ones from AutoZone...you can use 10 a year if you like, it takes about 15 mins to replace it :D

 

Yes, I know its easy. Have done it few times now. Still, I would prefere one that doesn't blow every now and then. I don't want to haul a spare with me.

Lifetime warranty does not help with this as the problem is not with paying 130$ for one but more in peace of mind -section. Anyway, there is no lifetime warranty offered for CS130's in these parts - even the part shops know they are sh_t.

I'll have to take one with me and go shopping. Compare the alt with other models and see if I can use something else to replace it.

Thanks,

Toni

 

my 89 eats them too. :U once a year. new ones, rebuilt ones, lifetime ones, don't matter. I have a spare.

things to try is to add a ground strap from the alt. body to the intake manifold or engine block.

another thing to do is to lower engine temps. the heat kills them too. make the fans come on earily, and get a lower thermostat.

lastly if that fails, you can upgrade the wiring to larger, but that seems to be a last resort.

Larry

 

Well I just installed a rebuilt one I upgraded with the Iceberg kit but lets see how long it will last. As a precaution I probably rebuild the one I took out. I think the rectifier blew as the bearings seem just fine.

I also continue searching a better alt which would install easily. My best bets seem to be CS130D which is much more ventilated model with external rectifier and then the bigger CS144. I just haven't yet been able to verify how they will or will not bolt on to stock brackets. Somebody said the the CS144 would bolt on with some minor filing though but that is all I know. Also somebody said that the alt used in ZR-1's is almost a direct bolt on. Can anybody confirm this? And what model is this alt?

Thanks.

Toni

 

Why didn't you opt for the 140 Amp for the 96? It's much better and I've heard of none going bad...ever. Besides, it does come with a lifetime warrenty from discount auto parts, mine cost about $150 total ( they wouldn't take the crappy wimpy model one from my 87 for a core charge. )

 

I bought a brand new polished alternator from PowerMaster. It is rated at 140 amps. I hope this one holds up!

 

I did. They bolt on fine. You need only minor filing to expand the upper bracket ear lobe width. It took about 30 minutes for me to convert mine.

LMK if you want pictures.

 

I'd like to see some pics. and what to ask for? can someone explain the names cs 130 144? all I know is "1989 alt please" :D

 

I cant remember which years used what but I think yours is also the infamous CS130 which are prone to selfdestruct. If I remember it correctly early C4's used something else - don't know what. Late C4's used CS130D which is completely different design and the CS144 is again totally different later design. Much bigger and more rugged. Did the very latest C4's use it?

Can anybody confirm which cars have what?

Here is a link to a company which sells parts and alternators for Chevys: http://www.alternatorparts.com/

Toni

 

> They bolt on fine. You need only minor filing to expand the upper bracket ear lobe width.
> LMK if you want pictures.

Hey, thanks! this is good news and I would be very happy to see pictures!! :yesnod:
Please e-mail them to me or show them in the Forum.

I could do this swap and sell all my old CS130's (after rebuild) to my friends, surprisingly they need spares too - just to maintain peace of mind. ;)

Thank you!

Toni

 

I have a 1995 LT1 now, but i did have a 91 L98 car for 2 years. In those 2 years I went thru 5 alternators. I did the Autozone thing, and they do give you a trouble free warranty. But its a pain in the azz to keep changing them over and over. I eventually went with the ZR1 alternator. There was some MINOR filing, but the fit was pretty easy.

Don't know why those alternators :U all the time. I had various problems too, not just one recurring problem. Some stopped charging, one developed bad bearings and the shaft got loose, and one started to seize.

Anyway, either go with an aftermarket alternator, or a ZR1 alternator. Even with a good lifetime warranty like autozones, you still get stuck changing it. Twice I was stranded in the middle of nowhere changing and alternator while someone ehld the flashlight for me because I couldnt drive the car (the one that seized and the one with bad bearings).

Good luck whichever way you go!

:smash:

 

I've noticed that my 90 Firebird uses the same alternator. I've replaced 6 in two years. (New, used, AC Delco, Hi performace). And I just replaced the alternator in the Vette.

As I recall. Its GM's bad design. It seem on mine the bearings have gone out a few times. . :rolleyes:

 

Mine died the day I bought the vette. On the way home from work that day matter of fact. So lets see...Ive had it 3.5 months now so I should make a trip to Auto Zone of Pep Boys just to be safe? :lol: :blueangel:

 

Hello Larry,

In about 85, the C4 alternators were called CS for Charging System- followed by a number. The number should be the rated amps for the specific alternator. Naturally, they have continued to increase output, ie, from say 105, 130, 140 etc .

Head for idavette.net and read Hib Halversons article on rebuilt alternators. Sorry I can't tell you exactly where it's located.

Generally speaking , rebuilt alternators can be a real crap shoot. If the rebuilder installs new diodes, new bearings, good tolerances on rotating components, maybe they'll last depending on heat conditions, installation, belt tension, vibrations, etc. But that is the trouble, really hard to determine what new components were installed during "rebuild" and what components were checked, found OK, and reinstalled. You can expect cheaper units with more check and found OK components.

If I have a factory alternator/starter, I usually take it to my local rebuilder, family business for over 40 years, Fred's Auto Electric, I'm not making this up. You may be able to find a similar shop by checking yellow pages, Automotive-Electrical, and checking out the shop. Usually rebuilds an alternator for around $35. The lifetime warranty offered by many stores is very appealing. You just accept the risk associated with not knowing what all was done. As usual, decisions decisions.

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[Modified by dlmeyers, 9:46 AM 10/14/2002]