I have a 2000 coupe and my alternator is in need of attention. I have been told it is better to rebuild than to replace. Does anyone have any info on this as far as parts numbers for the rectifier plate and such? Any help would be great!

Thank you,

Sully

 

surely someone has some experience with this....


can I get the parts to rebuild it somewhere or do I just need to take it to someone to rebuild???

thanks,

Sully

 

I just called the shop that does all my work and they charge $185 to rebuild it PLUS parts. The regulator assembly for it is $100.

Man,,,,I hope mine never goes bad.

What is wrong with yours that it needs rebuilding/repair???

 

Not sure where to get the parts, but you can get a reman unit from NAPA or Autozone or O'reilys, or etc. for under $200.

 

ssmith512.... i have been told that the replacement alts from autozone and such stores would not work b/c of the communication circuitry the stock valeo alts have. It will charge but you car will continue to register a "charge system fault" in the DIC.

Bill,

it's the car that has the burnt BATT wire near the alt. The starter solenoid wasn't loose and it is something within the alt that is causing the short. Something has broken loose inside it and sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Now I need to rebuild it.


Sully

 

Really? I did not know that. Thanks for the info, and I apologize for giving misdirected info. My bad!

 

ssmith512,

here's the best info I have found so far! This explains most everything and why the alts from autozone and such won't work correctly for ours cars:

Some Info that will help you understand the C5 Alternator


Credit goes to – Evil-Twin (Bill) Retired Corvette engineer


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1285146 (See Post #2)

Starting about June last year I had intermittent 'Charge System Fault' messages on the DIC. Some were accompanied by 'Low Voltage' warnings but the voltage stayed steady and soon recovered. In Dec, the alternator finally failed after multiple other message - 'Traction Control System Fault', 'Stability Control System Fault'.
The alternator was repalced, but the 'Charge System Fault' message still happened. I took it to the dealer who insisted the new alternator was also fault and repalced under repair. I picked it up this morning, drove 100yds and got a 'Charge System Fault' message again.

Anyone else had/ getting this message?

Any ideas on what this could be? I was wondering if Grounding through the engine may be a cause. Aluminum can oxidize and cause bad electrical contact. anyone had other Ground faults?

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

From ET-

It has been well documented here, and your dealer unfortunately has no clue...Very typical of many dealerships.... GM spent two years trying to ram this New Alternator down pre 00 C5's throats. Supposedly they have finally wrote a re flash program to address this issue, but then they said they had a cure for column lock issue too.
Your original alternator was a French made Valeo with a 110 amp output. The new alternator is made in Mexico and is a 140 amp alternator... your 99 PCM thinks the alternator is 110 amps. it communicates constantly with the PCM. Without a re flash of the PCM, you will be getting this constant charging system fault message. I have suggested to many, to have their original French made Valeo 110 amp alternator rebuilt by a competent re builder. This alternator has special switching not found on similar alternators.

here is how the C5 alternator works, I ve posted this many times:

The L-terminal circuit from the generator is a discrete circuit (a discrete circuit has no splices and only one source and destination) into the PCM. The PCM applies ignition voltage to the generator L-terminal circuit. A small amount of current flows from this circuit through the generator windings to ground to create a magnetic field which starts the generator process. When the generator is at operating speed and producing voltage, a solid state switch for the L-terminal circuit in the generator opens and the PCM detects that the initial startup current flow has stopped.

The PCM expects to detect low voltage on the L-terminal circuit prior to the generator rotating at operating speed and conversely expects the circuit to be at ignition voltage potential when the generator is operational. When the PCM detects a fault (circuit shorted to ground, or circuit shorted to voltage), the Driver Information Center will display Charging System Fault.

The generator has an input to the PCM called the F Terminal to indicate the percentage of total capacity that the generator is producing. This signal is detected by the PCM as a duty cycle from the generator and displayed on the scan tool as a percentage. The PCM can monitor the generators output under all conditions to determine if it is functioning normally.

When there is low demand from the electrical system on the generator, a low duty cycle percentage will be displayed. As more accessory load is placed on the generator, the duty cycle output detected by the PCM will approach 100 percent. A normally functioning generating system will never reach 100 percent as indicated on the scan tool.

The L and F terminals are the red and Grey

I hope this helps make understanding this alternator interaction with the PCM.
Good Luck
Bill aka Evil-Twin

 

If it were me, I would take it to a starter/alternator shop and ask them how much it would cost to rebuild it. It may not actually cot that much. The post that connects to the module inside sounds like its loose.

Bill

 

thanks Bill, That's what I am thinking too!


I am gonna try to locate a good electrical shop around here tomorrow. Good luck with the Z, hope you get that starter repaired.


Sully

 

Back in March when it hydro locked and blew the starter off the block,,,you have NO Idea how bummed I was. That much force, you have to wonder if the engine would even run. I have not had much interest in messing with it. Saturday I decided that I was going to jump back into it.

So,,,,,,,,,,,I reinstall the intake and all the other stuff and drag started it. Had the wife pull it with the Jeep. Damn thing cranked right up!!! So,,,,,I took it out for a DRIVE! Man it felt good to wail on it. It went right to 6850 without even a whimper.

So, now I have to rip the entire drive train out of it. Wish me luck!

Good luck on your alternator.

Bill

 

A local shop in Baltimore quoted me $50 to rebuild my stock unit when I thought it was going bad.

 

That maybe for a normal alternator but before you use this service check to make sure of the correct repair. The parts to rebuild for these units are expensive and are not readily available.

 

well I asked around with a number of mechanics and they all said the same shop in Springdale Arkansas was the one to take this Valeo alternator to. As soon as he saw it he knew what it was and chuckled out... "nope, there's nothing that I can do for that one. What wrong with it?" I told him the story as above stated in the previous posts and he said well let me call around and try to find something. No parts are available for a blasted french made valeo 110 amp alternator. So either I find a used one. Try to find a NOS one. Or buy a new one from gm and have the computer flashed with the update.


anyone else have any ideas???

Sully

 

Sully

It all; depends on how familiar the shop is on resourcing repair parts. I told my guy I needed a valeo regulator and he said,,,,hang on while i check the CATALOGUE.... So the parts must be out there somewhere.

He quoted me $100= change for the PARTS. then LABOR to repair it.

Like I said before,,,,Hope mine never breaks.

 

I just had mine rebuilt back in June, the guy knew exactly what was up with C5 allt's. Turns out the bridge rectifier/volatage regulator was bad.
It took about a week for him to get the parts, he did a nice job, tore it apart and cleaned it all up, my cost for the re-build was $150. When I get home tonight I can look up the name of the shop if you like, His shop is in San Jose, CA. If you cant get anyone in your area to rebuild it you could ship to him.

 

what's the name of the shop ?

 

nevermind, i saw you weren't talking to me. Sorry.

still searching...

 

San Jose Generator & Starter
Address: 40 San Jose Ave, San Jose, CA 95125
Phone: (408) 293-2200

 

Do a search - someone on here rebuilt theirs with pics and how-tos. Can't remember how long ago, but I remember it being pretty detailed. Good luck.