I just fired up the car with a new alternator and after checking on some wiring which may have been shorting previously.
The alternator gets really hot at idle and may even be smoking, what could be the cause? Do I still have a short somewhere?
You just can’t get a break can ya? :wow
If it’s smoking, it could be either faulty or making a Voltage that’s too high and smoking the wiring connected to it.
Have you checked the Voltage yet?
around 13-14 (at idle of course)
and high 12s with lights and blower on.
I hate to say it, but the easiest thing to do right now, before it blows up, is bring it to Advanced Auto or such, and get it tested on their machine to make sure it works proper.
The guy you bought it off has claimed it’s fine?
Errr thats no good, get it tested, u didnt buy it from a parts supplier?
The replacement alternator was a perfect working part from a D16Z6.
Then it could be the same electrical problem that was messing with your last one.
Mike find the damn gremlin in that car and hang him.
i need to buy you the staples easy button for that car.
Bring it to a real place. The moron at Advance told me my starter was fine but after I replaced everything else (ignition switch, starter relay, etc) it still stuck so I pulled it out and took it to Xcel and they told me right away it was bad so I bought a reman one and its been fine ever since.
Paul, do you know how I can test it to see if something is overheating it?
I think this might not be an issue at all, it didnt smoke this time when I looked at it and I know alternators naturally get hot. I just dont want to fry the thing already so I thought I would post.
It shouldnt overheat really. They often will get hot after running even briefly. The ground path for the alternator is though the big steel bracket, is either that or the upper bracket painted? Also check the main wire that goes from the terminal on top to the fusebox. Many times I have seen them corrode or melt because of a sketchy connection. This usually causes some weird activity and voltage issues. Should be 13-14v with few electrical loads. With everything on, usually high 12’s. But amperage should be checked too. Max output is around 80 amps.
Sounds like its the right voltage. Ill check the outputs.
I think the bracket is painted to, I thought I had sanded off the contacts of it though, i’ll double check it.
<------- +1 to that Mike. Faulty/poor grounds are the most common thing that cause alt/starter failure and excessive heat. Alt WILL get hot, just the nature of the beast, smoking could just be residual shit in the field just burning off. If it is charging properly, it’s working and shows the regulator is functioning. Alt’s and their circuitry are pretty simple, and either work and charge or don’t. I’d check grounds and if it still gives trouble run a separate 12awg wire from the alt mount to the battery, or a good chassis ground point.
Alternator is fine, smoke is not coming from it.
Time for a catch can. :lol
Let me explain:
wow… what the hell did you brake now… you have worse luck than me… well almost!
Bah, I went for a drive today and the alternator wire is sizzling.
The battery seemed not to be charging all that well (was at like 10v on start) could that cause the wire to melt? With the new battery I only dip down to 12.5 on start.
You definitely have a bad ground somewhere. Have you checked your negative for the battery, power wire to starter rubbed through to the chassis somewhere. Believe me it’s like prego that shits in there.
Power wire rubbed to the chasis, I just replaced it. Lets hope we’re good now. 13.9 at idle…
Took me a minute but LOL! :lol