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Old 04-20-2013   #1
LGAFF
 
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Default Alternator killer

Replaced the alternator on my 92. Within 2 minutes it was toast also; battery light came on, volts dropped. I had a battery tender unit on the battery(one you install on the batt and leave it),once I took the tender off, restarted the car, the light came off....but its producing only 12.2 volts.


hmmm any ideas...could the batter tender wiring be killing my alt....

What a PITA....
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Old 04-20-2013   #2
Jagdpanzer
 
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Default Re: Alternator killer

Can't see how a little trickle charger could wipe out a 120 amp alternator.
If the alternator is not putting out it was probably defective from the get go.
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Old 04-20-2013   #3
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Default Re: Alternator killer

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Originally Posted by Jagdpanzer View Post
Can't see how a little trickle charger could wipe out a 120 amp alternator.
If the alternator is not putting out it was probably defective from the get go.
Concur it's not a trickle charge battery tender that's the problem. You also might have an internal cell short within the battery
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91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat

90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat

11 RED/GREY CTS-V
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Old 04-20-2013   #4
scottfab
 
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Default Re: Alternator killer

Quote:
Originally Posted by LGAFF View Post
Replaced the alternator on my 92. Within 2 minutes it was toast also; battery light came on, volts dropped. I had a battery tender unit on the battery(one you install on the batt and leave it),once I took the tender off, restarted the car, the light came off....but its producing only 12.2 volts.


hmmm any ideas...could the batter tender wiring be killing my alt....

What a PITA....
Some troubleshooting needed. Not likely a battery tender at fault.
1. does the battery when disconnected from the car charge up ok?
If a cell is shorted then the pull from an alternator will be outrageous.

2. Assuming battery is ok, what does the field winding voltage go to when the car is running? (small wire pair going to alternator) Could it have been pinched or cut etc? If no 12v on the field winding you car rig a test by disconnecting the connector and supplying 12v straight from the battery. With the car running if the alternator is good it'll pump out about 14V.

You're likely going to have to pull the alternator again. The good news
is you've just done it so it'll go fast. Have it tested (free at O'riely's and other car places as I'm sure you know)
There has to be a warranty on the thing.
Good luck guy.
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Last edited by scottfab; 04-20-2013 at 01:17 PM.
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Old 04-20-2013   #5
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Default Re: Alternator killer

The battery is new, will have to do some testing....its odd that when I took the tendering wiring off, the batt life no longer illuminated. I have my old alternator off, will have that one test also to see what the issue is...
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Old 04-20-2013   #6
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Default Re: Alternator killer

Quote:
Originally Posted by LGAFF View Post
The battery is new, will have to do some testing....its odd that when I took the tendering wiring off, the batt life no longer illuminated. I have my old alternator off, will have that one test also to see what the issue is...
Lee get a load test done on that "new" battery as well
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91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat

90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat

11 RED/GREY CTS-V
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Old 04-20-2013   #7
LGAFF
 
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Default Re: Alternator killer

Alt output is "0"
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Old 04-20-2013   #8
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Default Re: Alternator killer

Quote:
Originally Posted by LGAFF View Post
Alt output is "0"
but if the signal from the car (alt control pair) is zero
then the alt could still be ok.
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Old 04-20-2013   #9
-=Jeff=-
 
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Default Re: Alternator killer

Quote:
Originally Posted by LGAFF View Post
Alt output is "0"
Was it tested? How do you know this for certain?

I had an issue with my 89 where one of the Alt wires going back tot he battery broke, causing me to think the Alt was bad when it was a bad/broken wire

are you sure you don't have the wiring shorted anywhere?
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Old 04-20-2013   #10
LGAFF
 
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Default Re: Alternator killer

I tested the prior alternator it was definately bad. I tested this one on the car, the car is running completely off the battery. I am just wondering if there could be a short killing the alternator; what are the odds of two in a row? I would think its unlikely as its the 92(24K miles) and nothing changed on the car.

Alittle puzzled.
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