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View Full Version : A more powerful alternator?

sekret agent
09-01-2009, 04:37 PM
my car starts strong in the morning but throughout the day, the more i drive it, the more of a pain in the ass it is to start. also i have a radar detector that needs 11.9v to operate and after it is plugged in it lasts for about 10 minutes then turns off. I have no idea what could be wrong but i got the alternator checked and the tests said it was still good. any ideas?
Tru2Chevy
09-01-2009, 04:54 PM
well, the starting issue could easily be from a heat-soaked starter. When they get very warm (like they tend to do while sitting next to a running engine all day) they tend to not perform as well. They make heat shields and wraps that you can use to help with that.

What kind of shape is the battery in?

- Justin
sekret agent
09-01-2009, 04:58 PM
the battery is brand new. how do i tell if the starter is getting heat soaked?
V
09-02-2009, 12:44 AM
i suggest looking at wiring and connections for corrosion
S.J.SLEEPER
09-02-2009, 12:52 AM
common problem is the battery leads.... corrosion between the throughbolt to metal eylet. pull terminals off check for corrosion at mating surfaces, then pry the throughbolt out of its plastic sheath
and see if it has corrosion where those 2 mating surfaces is. i must have had a 100 gm cars come in for this problem. would take a 5/16 wrench, flat screwdriver & wirebrush out to parking lot. never bother to even pul the car in the shop.

corroded/or bad connections will cause low or no charging of the battery. just to make it clear.
NastyEllEssWon
09-02-2009, 02:33 AM
they do make high powered alternators. theyre quite sizably larger than the stock small one. you're gonna have to drop the sway bar a small bit to get it in there, but other than that its just straight forward replacement
TheBandit
09-05-2009, 03:06 PM
they do make high powered alternators. theyre quite sizably larger than the stock small one. you're gonna have to drop the sway bar a small bit to get it in there, but other than that its just straight forward replacement

Before replacing the alt. i would do the wires. I'm not sure what the stock wire size is but i would do the Big 3. Change all the wires with 0 guage.