| Author |
Message |
    
Keith Armstrong
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 10:02 am: | 
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Ok, I had yet another rebuilt alternator fail yesterday. Not a really big deal since its still warranted, but who knows shen the new one will arrive.....yes, I kept the original as a spare and had it rebuilt the first time it failed.
I swear the regulator must have failed. I decided it was Italian tune-up day, stuck it in second and took off. All was well until 3k rpm and a little pop on the radio, tach goes to zero, and the battery light comes on 
I'm getting really good at changing the alternator but would really like to take it off of my six month maintenence list.
Suggestions? |
bryan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 10:37 am: |
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Buy a new regulator to have on hand, much cheaper than an alternator. The regulator is the only thing that's ever failed on mine. The first time my regulator was replaced it lasted a month before it died. The guy who rebulilt mine estimates that about 1 out of 100 regulators he installs fail. He replaced mine free of charge. |
John
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 11:25 am: |
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got a supplier for the regulator? Mine has been rebuilt twice at $275.00 each time. If I could change the regulator myself, i would be more than happy.
Is it difficult or straight forward.
Thanks,
John Hook
97 disco V8i |
bryan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 12:34 pm: |
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John,
Not sure of the supplier for the regulator. Your rebuilder should be able to find one. Two rebuilds on a 97 sounds extreme, did they offer any sort of warranty with their service? At that rate you'd be better to buy an aftermarket Beck Arnley, pretty sure they have a lifetime warranty.
Check this page out and email the guy who did the write up, he might be able to help you even though his rebuild was on a Rangie. http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/altrebuild.htm |
Keith
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 01:30 pm: |
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Heck, I really don't care if it fails - like I meant to say (you guys can read my thoughts right), the rebuilt unit that I bought locally is lifetime guaranteed - man do they hate me  I just want to know if it's worth my time to spend the $400 - $500 smackers for the Premier whatever and if I do, will their regulator fail too? |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 02:26 pm: |
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My truck has eaten four alternators in 135K miles and all of them died within a week of each other.
The last one was bought from either AB or RN, I can't remember which, however, the vendor claimed that they open all of theirs up and bench test them. The box had a voltage and amperage written on the box. This one has held up for about 40K miles.
I'm afraid that this is one of those areas where it's easy to get a lemon part.
Next time, I'll go Delco.
Peace,
Paul |
Scott (Scott_Bowden)
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 02:55 pm: |
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The Premier Power alternator has an external regulator. I have been running mine for about 6 months. It puts out alot of amps (claimed 160, I have not tested to verify, but you can hear it whir at idle, it sounds strong). It puts out about 14.2 volts at idle. I have dual batteries and it charges both. The pulley is smaller so the tach will read faster. There is supposed to be an adjustable potentiometer on the back of the instrument cluster but I have not checked yet.
I have been pleased with it so far. |
Peter
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 - 05:33 pm: |
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Mine also went at 65k miles, I just bought a rebuilt unit from napa, it was about 250.00 but it comes with a lifetime garantee, with only a phone call and at most a 24 hr wait for a new one!!!! |
David in Boston
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 02:39 am: |
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Bought mine for my RRC from Auto Zone for $179 and has a lifetime warranty, blew through 4 the first month, managed to combine parts from the 3rd and 4th to make one that charges and has my dash light on dim. More of a pain than anything else � 25,000 miles with the dim alternator light now. Probably should use the warranty and get another one but then again it might take me four more to get one that works again.
David in Boston |
Scott (Scott_Bowden)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 07:56 am: |
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You guys are going through these parts store rebuilds like water!
Either go to an Auto-Electric shop and have them test and rebuild your current unit or spend the money on a reliable unit. How can you tell your get alternators from a bad rebuild system?
Three strikes and your out!
What happens when you go on a trip, trail ride or are just out for the evening further away from home than your battery will last with the lights on?
Some things you should not take chances on.
Scott |
Jake Hartley (Jake)
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 09:00 am: |
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You guys should test the rest of your system also. Blowing alternators should not happen if all is well in your electrical system. At the risk of jinking mine, I have 250 thousand on the original alternator. If it does go, I am with Scott, go to a magneto and alternator shop and get yours rebuilt there. I think you will find the quality and service you need. PLUS they can check out your system to ensure that you don't have any goofs in it and most will do that for free. |
Keith
| | Posted on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 10:29 am: |
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Agreed fellas. I have the spare alternator in the back, I'm three miles from home most of the time, and when I do get the replacement for the most recent failure I'll let the local electric shop check out the rest of the system before I install it.
I'm just glad that the 109 has a good old fashioned generator and an honest-to-goodness voltage regulator in a box |
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