so i got my alternator rebuilt, and had it gutted and the amperage bumped up to 115 amps

all of a sudden my idle is smooth as silk - and that pesky hesitation @ 3x00 rpm is pretty well gone

comments anyone? i would guess that it's covering up another problem.. ie - bad grounds somewhere?

that or maybe the existing alternator wasnt putting out the kind of amps it should have been..

what do you guys think?

 

What were the symptoms of your idle??

 

How much did it cost you to do that and who did it? I've got a quality, not loud stereo system but it does draw more amps then stock, doesn't hurt to be safe.

 

man, my S4 altenator SUCKS! i've been thru 2 of them. my car only has an E-fan.. nothing major, just an upgraded head unit.


How difficult to mount an S5 alt? I know Silverrotor sells 3rd gen alt's for like 150 -160.. made to fit on a second gen. I am saving up to get the ones he offers.

 

I totally agree with the s4's not being optimal. I went through 2 Alternators when I had a full stereo In my ride. Since than, I've lost the stereo and have been running the FD Alternator with excellent results.

Black13B, great to see you upgraded your Alternator. Although you have more amperage pushing out of your stock Alternator, that does come with a consequence. Generally, beefed up Alternators with original castings tend to have a shorter lifespan. This Is primarily due to the bearings, within the Alternator, having to work harder all together. Additionally, the shaft of the Alternator limits the max amperage a given Alternator can generate.

 

I'll bet that as you worked on the alternator you also cleaned up the engine to body ground.
The alternator current uses that ground.
If it is not perfect, the ECU signals get crazy, then the ECU gets crazy, then idle gets crazy, then You get crazy.

 

bawahahahaha, thats the best description of that i have ever heard.

 

my idle was just erratic.. i thought it was the BAC.. because it would drop down really low (lower if there was more loads on like lights) and then regain up to 800 and then go down again

i thought the BAC was getting a shitty signal or something

when they rebuilt my alternator they said they were going for 125 - 130 amps, but 115 was as high as they could get it w/o getting a whole new one..

it came with a 1 year warranty though, so im satisfied with that

i have a ground going right from the battery to the alternator mount bracket.. that was there before i did the alt.. but the alt was pretty dirty and old, so i would guess that it never had a good ground or anything until i put the new one in..

i would like to at some point add a few more grounds around the car..