bad alternator - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

Chad · 07-07-2010, 04:38 PM

my alternator is going bad, i need to buy one so if anyone has one for sale or knows where i can get one cheap please let me know.

BigAls87Z28 · 07-07-2010, 06:10 PM

How do you know your alt is going bad? What kind of car is it in?

crainholio · 07-07-2010, 06:57 PM

I just made progress toward solving the crappy rebuilt alternator mystery up here in NNJ. I blew a NAPA rebuild after only 2-3 sessions at Pocono road course and got spooked after reading that chain store rebuilt LS1 alts seems to have this problem large scale.

I took the warranty replacement alt to a mom 'n pop auto electric shop, they found 40-Amp diodes in the crappy Chinese rectifier. Delco spec is 50-Amp diodes. No wonder the thing popped so quickly. Soon as you spin the thing to max output you're nearly at the limit of the diodes' capacity...3 diodes on the positive side, 3 on the negative side, that's 120-amp capacity on each w/ the crappy rectifier.

They're installing a heavy duty rectifier with 70-amp diodes for like $70 out the door.

I'd dig through the phone book under Automobile Generator/Starter/Alternator or whatever and find an established rebuild shop. You'll spend less $$ and get a better alternator.

Chad · 07-07-2010, 10:03 PM

cuz i switched the battery to a new battery and that didnt solve it. I have to jump my car almost every time it sits for like an hour. and when it is running the windows barley move.

and the car is my 2000 z28 camaro.

BigAls87Z28 · 07-07-2010, 11:28 PM

Ahh, yeah well sure sounds like an alt. Id get someone to run a quick test to make sure 100% its shot, but it sounds like you have a problem.

NastyEllEssWon · 07-07-2010, 11:38 PM

i live close to burlington. if you shoot me a pm sometime you can stop by and ill slap the dvom on the battery and see what you get.

crainholio · 07-08-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad

cuz i switched the battery to a new battery and that didnt solve it. I have to jump my car almost every time it sits for like an hour. and when it is running the windows barley move.

and the car is my 2000 z28 camaro.

How many volts does the dash gauge show while the engine is running?

Chad · 07-08-2010, 02:14 PM

just alittle over half.