Alternator Keeps Dying
04-06-2009, 08:49 PM
#1
Alternator Keeps Dying I'm wondering if anyone has had this problem before. My alternator will die sometimes if I reach high RPMs... This problem has been going on for almost 2 years now. If I let the RPM's reach anywhere over 5k my alternator most likely will die. It's happened so many times I can't count... I look down and my battery is in the red. Any help anyone had this problem??
2000 Camaro M6
2000 Camaro M6
04-06-2009, 08:55 PM
#2
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i would say it sounds like a voltage regulator but i think they are built in to the alternator itself, if not then thats ur problem. I would also check all your wiring, you may have a short in it somewhere, i had a small short and it fried my alternator within a week.
04-06-2009, 09:00 PM
#3
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Ive had this problem on a few cars...solution was to install an inline resistor to the alternator, it will keep the alternator from putting out to much and burning itself up.
They are .99 cents from Radio shack for the resistors and you cut and solder it inline in the single wire to the plug on the alternator (the little 16 gauge wire).
I dont have which OHM resistor it is in front of me , but you should find it by searching for it in the hybrid/conversions section
They are .99 cents from Radio shack for the resistors and you cut and solder it inline in the single wire to the plug on the alternator (the little 16 gauge wire).
I dont have which OHM resistor it is in front of me , but you should find it by searching for it in the hybrid/conversions section
04-06-2009, 09:14 PM
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I'm wondering if anyone has had this problem before. My alternator will die sometimes if I reach high RPMs... This problem has been going on for almost 2 years now. If I let the RPM's reach anywhere over 5k my alternator most likely will die. It's happened so many times I can't count... I look down and my battery is in the red. Any help anyone had this problem??
2000 Camaro M6
2000 Camaro M6
Your battery shouldn't lose voltage instantaneously. Your vehicle will run for a short time without an alternator to keep the battery charged and your electrical system running. It could be just your voltage sensing circuit to your gauge if your electrical system is fine during this period about 5k rpms. After 2 years of this... why havent you changed the alternator if this is the suspected failed/failing part?
04-06-2009, 09:18 PM
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Ive had this problem on a few cars...solution was to install an inline resistor to the alternator, it will keep the alternator from putting out to much and burning itself up.
They are .99 cents from Radio shack for the resistors and you cut and solder it inline in the single wire to the plug on the alternator (the little 16 gauge wire).
I dont have which OHM resistor it is in front of me , but you should find it by searching for it in the hybrid/conversions section
They are .99 cents from Radio shack for the resistors and you cut and solder it inline in the single wire to the plug on the alternator (the little 16 gauge wire).
I dont have which OHM resistor it is in front of me , but you should find it by searching for it in the hybrid/conversions section
04-07-2009, 02:41 PM
#7
Unfortunately it is an autozone alternator. I don't want to go and buy a new $350 GM alternator if the same problem is going to kep happening. It's not the guage. The car will run for about 15 minutes until the battery starts dying as well. I had to get it towed back home Sunday night, changed the alternator again Monday morning. I've changed the alternator about 9-10 times. I'm sure people have had this problem with their Camaro's because I keep hearing about them, I just never hear a fix. Whether it's a short in the wire or what??
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04-07-2009, 04:05 PM
#8
Unfortunately it is an autozone alternator. I don't want to go and buy a new $350 GM alternator if the same problem is going to kep happening. It's not the guage. The car will run for about 15 minutes until the battery starts dying as well. I had to get it towed back home Sunday night, changed the alternator again Monday morning. I've changed the alternator about 9-10 times. I'm sure people have had this problem with their Camaro's because I keep hearing about them, I just never hear a fix. Whether it's a short in the wire or what??
04-07-2009, 08:07 PM
#9
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Unfortunately it is an autozone alternator. I don't want to go and buy a new $350 GM alternator if the same problem is going to kep happening. It's not the guage. The car will run for about 15 minutes until the battery starts dying as well. I had to get it towed back home Sunday night, changed the alternator again Monday morning. I've changed the alternator about 9-10 times. I'm sure people have had this problem with their Camaro's because I keep hearing about them, I just never hear a fix. Whether it's a short in the wire or what??
04-07-2009, 08:46 PM
#12
Define "die". What is your electrical troubleshooting background. Are you familiar with Ohm's law? It is the basis for ALL electrical circuits and by implication troubleshooting them. How you checked the alt. output before and after this event to conclude it made your alt. "die"? Do you have parasitic draw? Is this happening only at the track or also under normal day to day driving? You aren't providing enough detailed info to get the help you need. Why have you waited until you have changed out 9 alt.s to ask this question? No one gets that many bad alt.s even from Auto Zone.
04-07-2009, 08:52 PM
#13
I have had nothing but issues with Autozone electrial stuff, I would get a NAPA one or GM - AC Delco one.
Also when you take it back to autozone, they should be doing a test on it to see if the voltage reg is burned out.
Its almost like the votage regulator in the Autozone one isnt designed to run at that high RPM, if that is indeed the same RMP you can kill them at. (5000)
Also when you take it back to autozone, they should be doing a test on it to see if the voltage reg is burned out.
Its almost like the votage regulator in the Autozone one isnt designed to run at that high RPM, if that is indeed the same RMP you can kill them at. (5000)
04-08-2009, 02:29 AM
#14
Define "die". What is your electrical troubleshooting background. Are you familiar with Ohm's law? It is the basis for ALL electrical circuits and by implication troubleshooting them. How you checked the alt. output before and after this event to conclude it made your alt. "die"? Do you have parasitic draw? Is this happening only at the track or also under normal day to day driving? You aren't providing enough detailed info to get the help you need. Why have you waited until you have changed out 9 alt.s to ask this question? No one gets that many bad alt.s even from Auto Zone.
It's not every single time I hit 5k RPM, it seems to happen every once in a while. I do know OHM's law E=IxR.... ANYWAYS... the alternator doesn't charge I'm simply running off battery at that point... not sure how to explain it in simpler terms. I've changed the connector with one from GM, simple 1 wire connector. It happens sometimes when I burnout, rev the engine high with a load, etc. NOT EVERY SINGLE TIME... but it's kind of a gamble as to if it'll go bad or not. I haven't checked for any parasitic draw of any kind. from a day to day car runs and drives fine. No pulley changes or anything like that... only thing on the car is LT's and it's been happening since before I put those on.
04-22-2009, 11:32 AM
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same problem I'm wondering if anyone has had this problem before. My alternator will die sometimes if I reach high RPMs... This problem has been going on for almost 2 years now. If I let the RPM's reach anywhere over 5k my alternator most likely will die. It's happened so many times I can't count... I look down and my battery is in the red. Any help anyone had this problem??
2000 Camaro M6
2000 Camaro M6
Hey I was wondering if you found the problem your having with the alternator. I own a 1990 camaro rs and I've had the same problem with it blowing the alternator every few months. I have replaced the alternator about 5 times now and also cannot find any solutions to what is going on. Everything on the car is original, nothing has been added or modified. My brother inlaw owned a 89 camaro rs and also had the same issue with the alternator dying every few months. He never was able to fiqure out what the problem was and ended up selling the car. If you have any information since your last post please reply, I would really like to get to the bottom of the problem, don't want to sell my car, everything else is perfect.
10-05-2014, 02:12 PM
#16
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alt Whats happening is your over reving it blowing the wires of the plat inside mine does the same thing still trying diff stuff ive got a clutched pully on it at this time 6500 good 7000 fail if your only pushing 5500-6000 use yukon denili pully it will hold for a while
10-05-2014, 06:41 PM
#17
I have heard of people with this problem and it turned out to be the diodes in the alternator. Many rebuilt alternators use cheap diodes that cant live at high RPM. The fix was to get a used (not rebuilt) KG3 alternator. I have one on my LS1. I had to remove the back bracket to get it to fit. My limiter is set to 6800 and I have been there many times without a failure.
Try searching "KG3" and look for a thread with a huge number of replies.
Try searching "KG3" and look for a thread with a huge number of replies.
