Alternator too small?
12-20-02, 02:10 AM
#1
I Like Guns
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Alternator too small?
Does anybody have any troubles with their stock alternator. I have a CD player, AVC-R, PFC Commander, and 3 Autometer gauges. When I'm driving around during the day it's fine. But if I turn my AC on my volts really drop to around 12.4 or so. And at night when I'm not on the throttle my volts drop and my headlights dim, like at a stoplight or something. What is the stock alternator? Is it a 90 Amp? Should I get a larger one like a 110?
12-20-02, 04:13 AM
#2
Rotary Freak
Garfinkle has had this trouble ,with underdrive pulleys in place. He put the stock alt pulley back on and got a gell cell battery. now all is well. He found a source for 150, 175 , 200 amp alts but they cost near $500 each, they fit the 3rd gen.
12-20-02, 08:21 PM
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As long as the voltage comes back up to the 14.2-14.7 range when you rev the engine, then changing back to the stock pulleys will solve your problem.
If however, the voltage doesn't go back up, particularly with the lights etc. on, then you may have a failing alternator. If in doubt pull it off and take it to almost any parts house and have them check its output. Should be no cost for testing and takes only a few minutes.
If however, the voltage doesn't go back up, particularly with the lights etc. on, then you may have a failing alternator. If in doubt pull it off and take it to almost any parts house and have them check its output. Should be no cost for testing and takes only a few minutes.
12-20-02, 08:29 PM
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As FDjunkie suggested, how old is your alternator? If it's original, it's probably just about toast by now. Mine went at 60k on my 95 FD.
Last edited by rynberg; 12-20-02 at 08:37 PM.
12-20-02, 08:30 PM
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is it tight enough? Maybe try tightening it a little? Not too much tho, you'll break/hurt it. or like duboisr and FDjunkie said maybe you'll want to put your stock pulley back on. If you have it.
Matt
Matt