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Replacing Alternator
09-21-2009, 10:04 PM
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Replacing Alternator My oe alternator is on the way out the door, battery voltage very low, dim headlights, dim interior lights, pitiful sounding horn (when locking doors). What is the best replacement/ho alternator for these cars. I do have a couple amps in the car, radar, and neon lights. How much of a p.i.t.a will it be for me to replace the alternator, I've already changed my buddies on an 02 v6 camaro.
09-22-2009, 11:28 AM
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I just replaced mine last week. I just went to Advanced auto parts and got a reman. So far it's working great but from reading quite a few people have had the remans die fairly quickly. I didn't have the funds to get a brand new one. Also, the core charge was only $12 so I'm keeping my old one in the hopes I can find someone to rebuild it and have as a backup. It wasn't really difficult to switch out, but it was tricky wiggling it out in between the fan, power steering hose and sway bar. I think if you take off the sway bar it might be easier to get out. Watch out not to break the exciter wire plugged in like I did, it's pretty tricky getting a small screw driver in there and pull on it at the same time.
09-22-2009, 11:34 AM
#3
I unbolt the alterntor, then break it free of its mounts, then spin it a little bit to get to the excitor wire plug to unplug it before taking the alternator out. Then unbolt the black cable, its one bolt.
Move it all the way forward up against the fan housing, then you just need to spin it around till it drops out.
15-20 mijnute job.
.
Move it all the way forward up against the fan housing, then you just need to spin it around till it drops out.
15-20 mijnute job.
.
09-22-2009, 11:49 AM
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My oe alternator is on the way out the door, battery voltage very low, dim headlights, dim interior lights, pitiful sounding horn (when locking doors). What is the best replacement/ho alternator for these cars. I do have a couple amps in the car, radar, and neon lights. How much of a p.i.t.a will it be for me to replace the alternator, I've already changed my buddies on an 02 v6 camaro.
I'm glad you asked that question. Here's a thread about alternators.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...etter-mpg.html
The sky is the limit here.
http://www.alternatorparts.com/
.
09-22-2009, 03:04 PM
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The other night I was sitting at a stop light, noticed that the lights on the gauges were dimmer than they should be, headlights were dim, and that the voltage was hovering around 10V, plus while cruising up a hill I keep hearing the car missing a cylinder. Plus I hear a distinctive whirling sound coming from the area around the alternator. Sound like the alternator is on the way out?
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09-22-2009, 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Formulals187;
I just want something that I can buy and will fit in without much of a problem preferably 160-200 amps.
The disadvantage with the CS130D however is that it's a smaller housing
so it may run hotter than a larger CS144.
Honestly your best bet is to get a local alternator shop to rebuild yours.
This way you will get a custom wound rotor and stator, a quality regulator and rectifier... Probably cheaper too. It will most likely perform better at idle too.
There's alot of new and rebuilt CS130D 160 and 200 amp alternators on ebay that are decent. Most are Chinese made though.
You can go with a Powermaster, Load Boss. Those will be more expensive.
EDIT: Here is the exact specs and description of the alternators for 98 to 02 F-bodies.
http://search.waiglobal.com/partnum....=1-2177-21DR-1
Originally Posted by Formulals187;
The other night I was sitting at a stop light, noticed that the lights on the gauges were dimmer than they should be, headlights were dim, and that the voltage was hovering around 10V, plus while cruising up a hill I keep hearing the car missing a cylinder. Plus I hear a distinctive whirling sound coming from the area around the alternator. Sound like the alternator is on the way out?
It could be one of a few things... 1.)Battery Cables 2.)Battery 3.)Alternator.
If you have a volt meter you can check that voltage across the terminals.
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Last edited by bearcatt; 09-22-2009 at 03:38 PM.
09-22-2009, 05:17 PM
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My cables looked like this when I bought the car. Nice huh ? 
Most likely your battery is fine.
Do you mean you checked the voltage across the terminals like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzz7P3qNHcE
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Most likely your battery is fine.
Do you mean you checked the voltage across the terminals like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzz7P3qNHcE
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09-22-2009, 08:38 PM
#12
My 427ci, with a 1,000 watt stereo cranking nicely and Matts speakers all around, an under-drive crank pulley, A/C on "max" with fans cranking, at night with my headlights on, sitting idling.......is perfect. I have a PepBoys OEM alternator and a 4 year old OEM AC Delco battery.
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09-22-2009, 11:51 PM
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Most likely it's your alternator, I can't say for sure.
It could be other electrical issues.
If I was actually there looking and making a couple of test, I would
be able to tell you if the alternator is bad or not.
It could be other electrical issues.
If I was actually there looking and making a couple of test, I would
be able to tell you if the alternator is bad or not.
09-23-2009, 01:46 PM
#16
I've had a battery die while driving. Everything just slowly declines, power just slowly falls off evenly till the engine shuts off. I jumped it for like 15 minutes just to get it home and it ran 100% perfect again for about 3 miles, then as I got to my street, it started slowly dying off again, but evenly and gradually, no misfires.
A failing alternator is the same thing, because the last thing to go is the batterry dying off.
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11-26-2009, 11:47 AM
#17
Well just finished changing mine, what a PITA to slide that bitch out 
First it wouldn't break free from the bracket, then to unclip the connector I had to use a small mirror and a flathead(worried I would break it) But its done!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
First it wouldn't break free from the bracket, then to unclip the connector I had to use a small mirror and a flathead(worried I would break it) But its done!Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
