Replacing Alternator

[Crankpin]

Any tricks to replace an alternator, 1990 L98 ? No voltage registering on the gauge. Car almost stalled. Lucky to get it back in the garage. Battery 2 years old. Just guessing it's the alternator.

 

[Otter]

My 89 has gone through 2 in the last 7 yrs, previous owner(original) went through 3 during his ownership. Pretty straight forward and simple to replace. I see in another thread you had problems with the tensioner, not much clearance between the front of the tensioner and radiator/ac (?) brackets but I use a pry bar to push it back a hair before I can get a 1/2 drive on it.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Any tricks to replace an alternator, 1990 L98 ? No voltage registering on the gauge. Car almost stalled. Lucky to get it back in the garage. Battery 2 years old. Just guessing it's the alternator.

If the voltmeter is on the peg, test the battery before you buy an alternator.

Even better is to use the charging system diagnostic instructions in the Service Manual.

 

[boomdriver]

My 89 has gone through 2 in the last 7 yrs, previous owner(original) went through 3 during his ownership. Pretty straight forward and simple to replace. I see in another thread you had problems with the tensioner, not much clearance between the front of the tensioner and radiator/ac (?) brackets but I use a pry bar to push it back a hair before I can get a 1/2 drive on it.

I'd charge and load test the battery first...

Guilty of washing the engine bay? The alt hates that. Spin it when its soaked and it instantly shorts and fries and never puts out more than 9 volts again..I lost 3 that way before I figured out that IF you wash...WAIT for water to dry or drain out of the case if it got wet.

ANother thing...you can increase your alt output by simply cleaning ALL the battery connections and ALL wire contacts to and from the alt. When mine starts putting out under 13 with accessories on, I clean the cables, ends and jumper post where it splits off, and get the full 14.5V back at start-up and normal charge rate of 13+....almost a full 1 volt increase just by cleaning the contact surfaces. I have to believe that resistence in the cables can cause stress on the alt. It is solid state which makes it fragile in some ways.

 

[Otter]

I'd charge and load test the battery first...

Guilty of washing the engine bay? The alt hates that. Spin it when its soaked and it instantly shorts and fries and never puts out more than 9 volts again..I lost 3 that way before I figured out that IF you wash...WAIT for water to dry or drain out of the case if it got wet.

ANother thing...you can increase your alt output by simply cleaning ALL the battery connections and ALL wire contacts to and from the alt. When mine starts putting out under 13 with accessories on, I clean the cables, ends and jumper post where it splits off, and get the full 14.5V back at start-up and normal charge rate of 13+....almost a full 1 volt increase just by cleaning the contact surfaces. I have to believe that resistence in the cables can cause stress on the alt. It is solid state which makes it fragile in some ways.

Great advice since I am guilty of washing the car too much. Thank you

 

[Crankpin]

Thanks, made me feel better.

My 89 has gone through 2 in the last 7 yrs, previous owner(original) went through 3 during his ownership. Pretty straight forward and simple to replace. I see in another thread you had problems with the tensioner, not much clearance between the front of the tensioner and radiator/ac (?) brackets but I use a pry bar to push it back a hair before I can get a 1/2 drive on it.

Your advice was helpful, makes me feel better cause the alternator on there looked kinda new. Just a weak link I guess. Now I noticed one fan not running. My next project. From reading posts I think heat under the hood is a problem with the C4's. Thanks again.

 

[Jeb]

If your car runs in the 230 range, you don't have a problem. Just remember to keep the coolant level up to specs, the space in front of the radiator clean of trash (it's a bottom feeder so it sucks crap into that area), and make sure your hoses are in good shape, you'll be fine. If you want to get a good discussion here, ask about putting a 160 degree thermostat in to replace the stock stat. LOL