Ok, so i really need to figure out why my alts keep dying...

[slick]

Yeah, cuz i'm getting sick of replacing mine what seems like every 3 months. Anyways, I'm not really doing anything wrong, or so it seems to me. All the alt's i have ever put in have been in new or like new condition. I try to avoid any puddles or deep water(in fact, i try not to drive when it's raining due to voltage fluctuations while driving).

 

I have upgraded the battery to block and battery to chassis grounds to 4 guage wire. All of those are good connections. My pos. terminals are all tight. The alt. cable is nice and tight as well. My engine does not run excessively hot, and if I know i am going to be sitting for a while, I will turn my car off just so i don't build up a ton of heat, while standing still, in the engine bay.

 

Could this be a sign of a faulty fusable link? Maybe i need to upgrade the battery to starter cable to a thicker wire (would probably go 4 guage)? Toss a ground cable on the alt. to the chassis? I dont know what I should do.

 

Friday, while I'm home for the evening, I'm stopping in at a local alt. rebuild shop with one of my bad ones to have him build me a high output alt. I'm going to see what he can do about having it cool better as well, so it doesn't burn up from excessive heat.

 

Any tips, things I can check, etc... is grately appreciated.

 

Thanks.

[GOT2B GM]

I thought the voltage regulator was inside the alt. Which would mean you replaced it every time you replaced your alt. But...I'm not 100% on that.

[slick]

There is a voltage regulator that runs from the line that runs from your alt. to your starter. It's built in line, and is none-fixable. All you can do is go to the store and buy another.

[GOT2B GM]

Hmmm. I didn't know that. If its not to expensive that'd be a good place to start for sure.

[94CutlassSLCoupe]

Isn't that the Fuseable link???

[slick]

Isn't that the Fuseable link???

 

Ooops... yeah, your right :oops:

 

I had the two mixed up. So yeah, anyways, back to where we was. If the fusable link is bad, could it be causing this?

[DOHCRagtopguy]

Is your duct work hooked up? I was told at the shop when they rebuilt my last one that if the cooling duct work isn't hooked up it won't last.

 

That having been said, there's no duct work on wifey's 3.4 Euro Sedan and that alternator is going on its third year.

 

Try getting yours rebuilt with heavy duty parts at a good shop and maybe you'll have better luck.

[slick]

I've tried it with the duct, and without the duct. No difference.

 

I'm definately taking my core alt. to this guy back home Friday. Maybe he can take it apart just to see what killed it. And maybe beef up that area, plus make it a higher amperage alt.

[Redwingvksm]

If the fusible link was bad - i'd be burnt and you wouldn't have any energy...

 

I'd check the starter B+ - where all the fusible links meet up. I bet thoes are dirty causing excessive amp draw...

 

Do you have any sound system in your car?

 

That's all I can think of for now... :?

[slick]

Nope, no sound system. It was stolen last spring sometime. When I did though, i was sure to turn it way down when at low engine speed to not kill the alt.. And thats another reason why I am trying to get this all solved. Planning a new stereo here real soon.

 

Guess I can take some simple green and a wire brush to the contacts on the starter and go from there.

[supreme_style21]

AH A buddy of mine fought the same problem in his Accord for damn near a year... I'll call him now and ask him what he did to fix it.

[slick]

Sounds good!

[Redwingvksm]

AH A buddy of mine fought the same problem in his Accord for damn near a year... I'll call him now and ask him what he did to fix it.

 

Padding...

[supreme_style21]

AH A buddy of mine fought the same problem in his Accord for damn near a year... I'll call him now and ask him what he did to fix it.

 

Padding...

 

i dun get it

 

 

 

 

He said, under the information he got from Honda, he replaced the fuse box and all wiring associated with it before it worked normally. Don't know if it applies to what you have or not though.

[gp90se]

how old is the battery, if it doesnt take a full change the juice that is supposed 2 be put back in the battery might be surging the alternator.

[5speedz34]

Wire in the 95+ alt and I'm sure it'll take care of you problems.

[slick]

Wire in the 95+ alt and I'm sure it'll take care of you problems.

 

Yeah yeah yeah...

[5speedz34]

Wire in the 95+ alt and I'm sure it'll take care of you problems.

 

Yeah yeah yeah...

 

Aaron had the same problem he said and doing that took care of it on his dad's Z34.

[boulevard]

what brand of alt. are you replacing it with? I replaced mine with a AcDelco and it lasted 3 months, twice! I then spent my money on other brand calling themselves PREMIUM and had it ever since. Going 5 years now in my 4-door Lumina. If it's a electrical problem I wouldn't know anything about it.

[slick]

I've done AcDelco, NAPA, Autozone, and other various brands. None seem to be better than the other.

[Canada]

Whats failing on the alternator each time? The regulators? Or windings/bearings?

[chadz34]

There is no alternator the 3.4 can't wreck.

[DOHCRagtopguy]

Usually it's the diodes that blow in the alternators. Then the regulators.

 

At least that is what I was told by my rebuilding shop.

[93CutlassSupreme]

Wire in the 95+ alt and I'm sure it'll take care of you problems.

 

is that a CS130D?

 

 

Brian P was going on about how they're junk too. would it really make a difference?

[slick]

Whats failing on the alternator each time? The regulators? Or windings/bearings?

 

That's what I plan on finding out. Hopefully tomorrow when I drop off that alt. he can give me some sort of insight as to what is dying, that way I can better pinpoint what is going on.