Alternator question!
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3
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From: Northern Illinois
Alternator question! Hello all, I have a '98 B4C which apparently means i have a bigger alternator than stock? (it's a Delphi btw) Anyway, my alternator bearings took a crap and i need a new alternator. Autozone has one for $170, but it only puts out 102 amps! I have aftermarket speakers, an aftermarket stereo, and a racetronix fuel pump which is directly connected to the alternator. My mechanic says i need to buy the same high output alternator or he can have someone rebuild it for $210 (screw that). My question is, do i need a higher output amp or will the tiny 102 amp alternator work? I know NOTHING about this stuff so any suggestions, alternate solutions, anything helpful will be greatly appreciated!
I wouldnt get a part stores alternator. You need a good company like Powermaster.
I just replaced mine with one. The Powermaster stock replacement comes as a 150amp instead of that 102amp. I got mine from ws6store.
I just replaced mine with one. The Powermaster stock replacement comes as a 150amp instead of that 102amp. I got mine from ws6store.
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 94
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I've got a 2000 B4C and while I haven't checked the alternator, the brochure says it comes with a standard 46amp at idle and 105amp alternator at highway speeds. My car has two 12v outlets up front, a siren under the hood and you can see on the windshield and rear hatch where the disco lights once were so if it does just have a 105 amp alternator then I would think you would be ok with just a standard 102amp alternator...unless your stereo is being driven by a big amplifier. When I drive it, sometimes I have the CB radio, regular radio, the GPS, and a 150 watt invertor powering all my kids laptop,ipod,etc, etc, and if mine's only rated at 105amp it does fine powering all that....even at night with all the lights on. You could probably look up your stereo/speakers/fuel pump amps or wattage online from the manufacturer. If they only give watts, then total the watts and divide that by 12 volts and that will tell you how much amps your useing from those accesories. Having said all that, that powermaster looks pretty nice and it's cool that it comes with it's measurements both at idle and highway speeds. I've always been adamant about a solid electrical system...meaning good strong battery, good cables and higher end alternator on all my cars and trucks and that powermaster looks pretty high quality. Good luck.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,648
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
The only alternators that I've ever been happy with are ones from GM or from Powermaster. I would not buy from anywhere else, unless you know a local rebuilder that's highly recommended.
The chain store alternators are usually junk.
I won't buy any electrical parts at AZ.
Change out the pulley on the replacement alternator
the picture above shows why. the black pulley (stock) is
thinner at the rear, using the gold replacement pulley may result it belt
noise and fraying of the belt on one edge.
Change out the pulley on the replacement alternator
the picture above shows why. the black pulley (stock) is
thinner at the rear, using the gold replacement pulley may result it belt
noise and fraying of the belt on one edge.
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Registered User
Joined: Apr 2013
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Trust me spend the money and get a higher output Alt, it will save you headaches and money down the road. Batteries arent made to run low and recharge they are made to stay charged. If you are draining your battery all the time due to an alternator that cant keep up the charge you are not only killing the battery pre maturely your also wearing out the alternator at the same time.
