Why Cant Anyone Build An Alternator That Works???

[TType84]

oh my god, guys i am at the end of my rope

one thing after another, starter cracks, pep boys says i have to have a receipt to honor their warranty even though every single other store is smart enough to put it in the computer.

i got one from autozone.

everything is back to normal,oops, COOLANT LEAK.. replaced the hose... its all good.. right?

I go to start it.. slow crank.. clickity click click click. alright.. maybe its because i had the doors open while i was cleaning out the inside.... so i jump start it off my grandpas dually.. seems good now? right? everything is good to go. i step on the brakes, AND THE CAR FREAKING DIES

i need a new alternator. this one is barely over a year old.. and has been rebuilt under warranty once from a 'respected' alternator and starter company... and i have put a new voltage regulator in it since then. my question.. to all of you.. AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO CANT KEEP AN ALTERNATOR ON THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS AT A TIME??? nothing i buy ever works... the starter i replaced.. less than 6 months old. i have the worst luck ever.......

is there a reason alternators commit suicide on my car? this makes no sense.. that shop that built it said that it died because of heat. i dont understand am i the only one with a hot engine bay? what kind of ridiculous statement is that ?

someone... anyone.. words of advice?

i am probably going to put a 86/87 120amp model on my car if nothing else.. maybe those dont have a heat problem....

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

i had that problem when i was still hotair ...voltage reg. kept going bad so i just started keeping another one here ...

as far as starter ...went to gear reduction gm starter and no more problem there..

like i just told crazy gn if i was him i'd switch over to 86-87 style alt. and be done with it..then you can run a volt booster with it to pump up the voltage at wot.

 

[WFO]

i have killed a few alternators myself.on the hotairs the up-pipe is inches away from the back of the alt and it just gets cooked.i'm going to thermal wrap the top piece of my up and down pipes sometime soon.

red-can we just swap pullies on the 87 120 amp alt and it will bolt right up?


later,sean

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

havent tried it yet but can measure them later today and see.

the pulley shouldnt be a problem but i'll try and check it all out.

 

[tjthorson]

Just a little side note - do you wash your engine a lot?

When I was younger I used to wash the car several times a week. i also used Gunk cleaner and sprayed down the engine also. Then I would fire it up to let it warm up and dry off. I started replacing alternators every few WEEKS. Interestingly enough, this was on a 1976 odd-fire Buick v6.

Anywho, I guess if I got too much water in the alternator and fired it up before it was dry, something would short out. The part I could never understand it, it would go out like days after being washed - not right away. Trak auto just kept giving me alternators. Once I quit washing the engine, I quit replacing them.

Just a thought....

 

[TType84]

my up pipe is wrapped.. still kills them.

i wish i did wash my engine... its reallly dirty would be a simple fix, but no...

does anyone make a heat shield for the backs of alternators?