CNBZ34 Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Well, here we go again.... another alternator. 6 months ago I went thru an exercise in mental masturbation with 3 R&R's before I got it. It has now crapped out again. Car...1992 Z34 Engine...1997 crate engine... still OBD1 Alternator is the 1997 style as the 1992 style would not fit in the bracket. The wiring was adapted as the 1997 style is controled by the ecm and the 1992 is not. It has the cooling duct too. I'm at a loss now and having to replace an alternator every 6 months in that car just aint going to cut it. I don't suppose anyone has any similar experience here.... or do I just have a bastard of a set up. I'm not looking forward to replacing this AGAIN!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Sounds like youve got another problem thats causing them to go bad.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNBZ34 Posted March 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 That's what I'm afraid of... I've thought of taking it back to the 92 style however, the wiring and bracket have been altered to accomidate the 97 style and I really don't have the time to put in to try to figure out the problem. I cannot afford to pay somebody either to figure this one out. CRAP!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soya_sauce Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 i think you may have a problem in the wiring. if one of your battery cables is bad, corrosion bad connection etc. the alternator will have to charge way more than usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNBZ34 Posted March 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 So, new alternator is in and system working as it should. The place I got the other one from warrantied it and is going to let me know what failed inside so I can try to narrow down the problem. I followed Slicks write up and it worked well however, I had to remove the axle shaft for additional room and it made the R&R easier. 45 minutes????? Not even close but still a good approach removing it that way. Bottom line.... up and running again. We'll see for how long.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwmin Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 when i put my stereo in my 96, the stocker went out. then, i got a mr. alternator 160A and it went out in prob 6 months. then, i got a delco rebuild cuz i had to sent the mr. alt back for a return. i got the MA back is in there now cuz the delco also crapped out. i only ugraded the wire from the batt to the starter, not from the starter to the alt. and the other, of course it seems like any time you put a system in a 3.4X car, the alt goes out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNBZ34 Posted March 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 So you are saying that it is possible that my Pioneer CD is causing this? I do not have a box or amps, just the head unit. Problem is that it's a 97 3.4 which would not accept the 92 alternator due to bracket differences. The 97 alt is wired correctly according to both diagrams so there should be no issue. All cables, connections etc are good, less than 1/4 volt drop between the +battery cable post and the alt out put so no issue there and it charges @14.4V. I could not do a load test to see the amp output and I don't want to blow the fuse in my DVM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 So, new alternator is in and system working as it should. The place I got the other one from warrantied it and is going to let me know what failed inside so I can try to narrow down the problem. I followed Slicks write up and it worked well however, I had to remove the axle shaft for additional room and it made the R&R easier. 45 minutes????? Not even close but still a good approach removing it that way. Bottom line.... up and running again. We'll see for how long.......... I never had to remove the half shaft, but I can see that it would make much more room. LOL, when I did it in 45 minutes, I timed myself with a stopwatch. Kinda funny really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwmin Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 i highly doubt just a radio would be doing that. im talking about an actual system w/ amps and subs. its way easier to drop the sub than remove the halfshaft imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNBZ34 Posted March 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 My time spent I think is partly the fact that I have a 97 engine and alt set up in a 92 car, kind of a bastard child. Still a good method of attack on the job. I also believe part of my problem is that I possibly have 12 volts going into the L terminal on the alt and it should be stepped down considerably if the light circuit is functioning correctly. I need to tap that wire and see what is applied. I also need to see if the alt will function with just the I terminal hooked up.... This is going to be a real challange to figure this one out. That or the car goes down the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted March 24, 2007 Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 I had a 95 in my 93. Essentially the same problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNBZ34 Posted March 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 What did you do to remedy the problem? I hate the thought of just getting rid of this car as it is such a nice car and I am SO DEEP into it. But I cannot be replacing an alternator every 4-6 months either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted March 24, 2007 Report Share Posted March 24, 2007 Can't remember, but I was eating through alternators as well. I ended up having one built up to tow truck specs, and was guarantee'd not to fail though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joey b Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 I have a 97 in my 92 and have had minimal problems. I bought a rebuild 20 months ago and have not had any problems since. I have a 97 alternator and just spliced in the harness from a 97 Grand Am althernator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead43 Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Newer engine eh?........ Figures..... Go about checking the engine harness grounds... A loose common/main ground can cause the dammed alternator to heat the hell up and fail....Also check for corrosive grounds.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNBZ34 Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Okay, I finally have solved it! having the warning light hooked up to the L terminal for the 97 alt is not good. Remove that wire from the plug, problem solved. Also was able to get my hands on a self exciting regulator for that alternator so I'll keep it in my tool box in the event I pop another regulator. So my Z got a reprieve from sale. Not that I'd ever get close to what I'm into it for but the thought of replacing alternators every 4-6 months just didn't thrill me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.