Alternator question

3060 Views 3 Replies 2 Participants Last post by Tymont, Oct 17, 2011

drag0san1

Discussion Starter · Oct 2, 2011

Gotta question for anyone savvy enough to reply. So I bought a 250 amp alternator to replace my old one. However when I was installing it I over-tightened the post that leads the positive wire from the alternator to the PCM and snapped it in half. I removed the plastic protective cover for the positive wire ( i was gonna do the big 3 upgrade anyway) and used a rubber washer I had laying around to isolate the positive post and wire from the alternator case. Worked for about half a day. Late last night when driving home I noticed my Voltage dropped from the 14v it was right after install to about 12v, by the time I got home I had the check gauges light on and a battery voltage of around 10v. The washer moved, allowing the positive wire to contact the alternator case. I figure that fried the rectifier bridge, correct me if i'm wrong. So heres my question: Can I use parts from my old stock alternator to replace the damaged parts in the new one, Or is it best to just suck it up and buy a new alternator?

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Tymont

· #2 · Oct 4, 2011

If you know which parts in your old alternator are good you can use them. Most alternators purchased are not new anyway. Most are rebuilt.
As long as they are the same you should be able to do it. But most people don't feel like going through the hassle.

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drag0san1

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 12, 2011

So I took the new "blown" alternator into a shop, they tested it and said it was working fine. So seeing how after I swapped the two alternators and the vehicle started up and was charging, ect. I was wondering if the fusable link between the alternator and the battery wire could have blown, and is it the kind that after a period of time it resets? Also, should I use larger gauge wire seeing how I'm going from either 90 amps or 130 amps to 250amps.

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Tymont

· #4 · Oct 17, 2011

I believe the "fusable link" is a self resetting breaker. As for the cable, it shouldn't be a problem to leave the original. Just because the alternator can put out more juice than the original one did doesn't mean it's going to. Unless you change the load there is no reason for the alternator to max out.

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