i just replaced my alternator due to some (still mysterious) issues...
popped it in last night... car would run fine for a bit... then die out for almost no apperent reason

even after adjusting the idle a bit higher (was at 500, i set it to ~~750) it would die out

then i hooked up a battery charger to the battery, while the car was running, and idle went up to 1000, and everything was peachy... but as soon as i'd turn that off, it went back down to 750.

and the alternator was seriously becoming disgustingly hot... like, the block i could keep my hand on, but even 1 second on the alternator was a burn. i'm assuming its the same thing that killed my previous alternator

any ideas here? all belts were tightened, ive tried it w/ 2 batteries so its not that...
could it be shitty wiring not transferring all the charge to the battery, and so the alternator is melting?

 

sounds like there is a large drain on the battery/alt. that is causing it to work overtime and therefore get disgustingly hot...

I would whip out the multimeter and verify its output - positive on the MM to the positive terminal on the alt.........ground to the negative on the battery.

Does the battery go dead if the car sits for a day or so?
Are there any other intermittent issues with lights or anything that might point to a short in the wiring somewhere?

 

no, the battery doesnt die from just sitting...
i mean, the battery is brand new, and i even tried it with a larger one
and no issues that i can see... my best guess is shitty wires? or shitty connection somewhere

 

when the car is running are the battery terminals hot as well? or just the alt?

if the terminals are getting hot that would indicate a short somehwere as well....

what voltage is it kicking out when its idling?

 

i havent checked... its pretty healthy tho, like 12-14

im also getting RPM drain when i crank the wheel, but i guess tahts normal. that sometimes causes it to die around corners, or whatever....
but im assuming thats only a smaller side-issue, which is only made worse by this egg frying heat generated by the alt

 

noone has had similar problems? ever?