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Alternator
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 6:01 pm
by wardy1
Hey guys i got a 91 jlx vitara (carby model)
I think the alternator is dead is there anyway to test it at home or do i have to take it to and auto elecy?
And whats a fair price to have it rebuilt or is it not worth worrying about rebuilding it and i just buy a second hand one?
Cheers.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 6:15 pm
by danssurf82
turn the car on and use a multimeter.
if no multimeter turn the car on and disconect the battery, if it still runs your alternator should be fine...
dont bother gettin it re-built, auto elec-rip u off and put in crap brushes.
had mine rebuilt, due to bearings stuffed from water/mud-still charged fine untill rebuild.... stuffed up 3 times during warranty- as soon as it got wet in a puddle of mud.. oh yeah cost $160 for the re-build.
bought a second hand one and drown it in mud every weekend and never had a prob since. bought second hand one for $65,
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 6:40 pm
by Gwagensteve
*ahem* search for Falcon or Ford or EL alternator upgrade.
I'd never, ever bother dropping coin on a stock alternator. You already have a polyvee belt - go ford ASAP.
Steve.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 6:53 pm
by wardy1
cheers steve il have a geez through some of the conversion threads.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 7:18 pm
by weaves
hey wardy
i had mine on my sierra rebuilt a few months ago and it cost $140 on a sunday arvo. at cardiff auto wreckers
if its the same as a sierra one, i have a recently rebuilt one sitting in the shed aswell off another car i just stripped. if you get stuck and need one and a sierra one fits a vitara (i'm unsure if they do), text me on 0407518551 and we'll sort something out.
weaves
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 7:47 pm
by wardy1
cheers weaves il look into it.
And for the life of me i cant get this damn search thing to work i type in
EL alternator upgrade and it gives me results that have completly nothing to do with "EL alternator upgrade" lol...
haha dont worry about the search rant =D i had a blonde moment..
i got it running now.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 8:01 pm
by weaves
check these out. quoted from a previous thread i had about an alternator question
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:04 pm
by Moph
Based on my recent experience it might be worthwhile buying a new aftermarket EL unit.
I have had 3 second hand alts in mine now ... first lasted 6 mths, second a couple of days, and the third a couple of weeks. Turns out the drama is they sit directly under the PS pump on the EF/EL and if you've ever owned an EF/EL you'll know they're somewhat prone to leakage. The PS fluid apparently kills 'em.
Got quoted between $280-$330 for a new 110A aftermarket unit. Sounds expensive until you consider I've gone through 3 x $70 alts from the wreckers in the last 9 months..... they won't take 'em back because I've had the pulley off
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 11:17 pm
by Santos
undoing the battery while the car is tsill running is a good free way of checking the aslternator.
the real test though is to load it up by driving around the block with your headlights on with the battery discnnected.
dicksith sell a battery/alternator checker fr $13 bucks, its good little thing to see if your regulator is catus and the condition of batteries
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 11:22 pm
by Goatse.AJ
Moph wrote:Based on my recent experience it might be worthwhile buying a new aftermarket EL unit.
I have had 3 second hand alts in mine now ... first lasted 6 mths, second a couple of days, and the third a couple of weeks. Turns out the drama is they sit directly under the PS pump on the EF/EL and if you've ever owned an EF/EL you'll know they're somewhat prone to leakage. The PS fluid apparently kills 'em.
Got quoted between $280-$330 for a new 110A aftermarket unit. Sounds expensive until you consider I've gone through 3 x $70 alts from the wreckers in the last 9 months..... they won't take 'em back because I've had the pulley off
PS fluid generally doesn't "kill" them, but it will make them do funny things. Pull the reg out, clean the whole lot up with degreaser and you should probably find it works fine. It's not hard to pull an alternator apart.
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:44 am
by wardy1
Thanks for the replys and help guys!
So now my understanding is that the EL alternator will drop right into the spot of my old stock alternator and all i have to do is switch the plugs over?
Do i just get the new plug from an auto sparky?
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 4:04 pm
by Bron5on
Found this on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Reco-Alternator- ... 7C294%3A50
I ordered one (impulse buy!) so I'll see how it pans out. Knowing my luck it's the wrong one but the guy on the phone said it was the mitsu version rated at 110 amps so I'm hoping it's the go. I want it for my 1.6 16v powered sierra. Yes I could go to the wreckers but prices aren't that great down here. Less competition and fewer parts to choose from dictates a sellers market. Will let yas know how i go with it.
Cheers
Bronson
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 4:58 pm
by Pezooki
wardy1 wrote:Thanks for the replys and help guys!
So now my understanding is that the EL alternator will drop right into the spot of my old stock alternator and all i have to do is switch the plugs over?
Do i just get the new plug from an auto sparky?
Hi Wardy.
It 'almost' drops straight in. A small amount of drilling and grinding is usually required.
Yes you need to swap the plugs over - either get a new one from an auto-elec, or (the best option) is to head down to your local wreckers and grab one off an EF or EL. Cut the old plug off, solder the new plug on. Easy!
Cheers,
Pez
Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 5:36 pm
by BOGFROG
Bron5on wrote:Found this on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Reco-Alternator- ... 7C294%3A50
I ordered one (impulse buy!) so I'll see how it pans out. Knowing my luck it's the wrong one but the guy on the phone said it was the mitsu version rated at 110 amps so I'm hoping it's the go. I want it for my 1.6 16v powered sierra. Yes I could go to the wreckers but prices aren't that great down here. Less competition and fewer parts to choose from dictates a sellers market. Will let yas know how i go with it.
Cheers
Bronson
Looks exactly like mine should be good! the price is good for reco too! Cheers Robb.
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 2:02 pm
by Bron5on
Just a quick update on the alt I ordered from here:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Reco-Alternator- ... 7C294%3A50
It turned up today and is the mitsu 110amp model. Cant remember the product number off the top of my head, only that it matched the alt needed for the conversion. Haven't had time to try fitting it yet tho. Just thought it might be handy info for anyone else wanting one. I figured 155 wasn't a terrible price for a reco'd alt.
Bronson
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:16 pm
by Moph
Fork I'm an idiot
Think I found the problem with my old alternator. Reason being that I had the same problem with my new alternator which I fitted last night and that finally twigged me to the problem.
Make sure you really tighten up the nut when you swap the pulleys over - I tightened mine using a 12V rattle gun on the bench and thought it was pretty tight - turns out that while it was running fine at idle when first installed, the first decent rev I gave it started the pulley spinning on the shaft.
Doesn't trigger the Alt warning light for some reason (comes on with other reds with ignition on) but gives zip zero zilch charge as the alt itself is spinning far more slowly than its designed to. You need to install it, get the belt on, then really tighten it up with a wrench.
Mechanical genius here
Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 8:44 pm
by danssurf82
haha damn u could of gotten away with it cheaper!!!
hey installing a 110 amp alternator will also mean a more expensive duab battery setup...!!!! think of that all u guys, u will need a 200amp instead of 100amp.. just my 2c