C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Help my alternator sucks!

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Old Dec 14, 2003 | 07:15 PM
  #1  
Cory00's Avatar
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Default Help my alternator sucks!

yea thats right after about a booming 4 months of my ol alt. its lookin likes it takin a crap out on me..... when i hit my breaks with the headlights,fogs,and heater on it drops to about 13.2 to 12 then 11.9 so i give it a little gas goes up a little and drops back down and once i start driving boom it jumps up to 13.2 , and that is with the system off :confused:


now in the day time its a differ story.. no lights no heat and system on while driving it holds strong at 13- 13.2 untill i hit my breaks and come to a stop so i turn the system off and still its droping

does this sound like its takin a crap... its a el chepo from autozone i was straped for cash at the time and i think i got a warrenty with it but im not sure. im going over there tom and get it checked but i have a feeling of what they are going to tell me


Thanks :cheers:
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Old Dec 14, 2003 | 07:22 PM
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Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (Cory00)

Sounds like crapper time. Regulator may be going. Normal voltage is around 14.0-1. 13.5-6 @ idle, lights, radio, interrior lights on. Swap it out, for another. Got an Advance one in my 89, been there 2 years, engines seen 7000 more than a bunch of times and no problems.


[Modified by johnnyevans, 7:23 PM 12/14/2003]
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Old Dec 14, 2003 | 07:23 PM
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Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (johnnyevans)

i just wanna know one thing..... what the hell makes a alt crap out in 4 months and how do i stop it from doing to next time i get one
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Old Dec 14, 2003 | 07:31 PM
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Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (Cory00)

That's a really good question, I went thru 3 AC Ds before that one. Been thru 4 on the Mark.
Those sealed, invertible, totally maintenance free, Exide batterys just smoked the interrior on another 89 that I have been working on. Go figure.
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Old Dec 15, 2003 | 08:18 AM
  #5  
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Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (Cory00)

Cory, there's nothing wrong with an Autozone rebuilt. you could put ina new GM unit from the dealer and still have the same problem. What you need to do is to upgrade to a larger capacity alternator . All the info you need is in the tips section. I replaced the one in my 86 with a rebuilt from a 93. The whole problem is that the original 105 amp alternator is too small for the load it has to carry on a vette and it runs too hot as a result and burns up the diodes. Up grading to a 120 or 140 amp unit will solve the problem :cheers:
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Old Dec 15, 2003 | 09:44 AM
  #6  
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From: The light that never warms.
St. Jude Donor '12
Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (Cory00)

i just wanna know one thing..... what the hell makes a alt crap out in 4 months and how do i stop it from doing to next time i get one
I just submitted a tech tip on upgrading the '84 and '85 alternators....go check it out!
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Old Dec 15, 2003 | 10:10 AM
  #7  
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Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (lite blue)

:thumbs: Nice tip....
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Old Dec 15, 2003 | 12:07 PM
  #8  
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Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (Cory00)

Cory,

lite blue's tech tip is spot on.

If you want more information on the problems associated with the SI series of alternators, which had been used for a healthy number of years, and worked rather flawlessly when the demands of the car did not include electronic fuel injection, here are some more links.

Hib Halverson's ideas on the subject http://www.idavette.net/hib/reman.html

Forum member SunCr and me discussing the issues... http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=651832

Some people will inherently have no problems whatsoever with the factory alternator. For me, it just didn't do the trick.

And if you are trying to decide between the CS130 and the CS144, the CS144 is the way to go, after various discussions wiith Dr J and information gathered elsewhere on the net.

A few more links that detail the 4 pins on the CS series of alternators. http://www.alternatorparts.com/cs130_sbpage1.htm http://www.novaresource.org/alternator.htm

HTH
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Old Dec 15, 2003 | 12:13 PM
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Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (dwestsr)

I would love to upgrade to a higher amperage alternator. Where is this "tips" section you mentioned. Will it explain how to get one and how to hook it up? My alternator is always around 13.4-13.6 while driving around in the daytime. thanks.
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Old Dec 15, 2003 | 03:04 PM
  #10  
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St. Jude Donor '12
Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (Mark L. Warner)

Under "tools'" in the drop down menu at the top :thumbs:
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Old Dec 15, 2003 | 08:08 PM
  #11  
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From: Spring Hill Florida
Default Re: Help my alternator sucks! (lite blue)

thanks for the help everyone


i jsut got the new alt and put in and at idel its 13.8 :party:


cant wait to take her out tonight after supper


ill let every know know how it does when i get back


agin thanks for the help :cheers:
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