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 Hot Alternator
#944699
05/11/09 06:02 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 27
OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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I have a Buick V6 in my jeep. I've had starting problems lately - acts like not enough juice in the battery. Tonight I put my hand on the alternator four hours after I shut off the engine. It was hot but the engine was cool. I disconnected the battery. The alternator cooled off. Then I connected the battery again and an hour later the alternator was hot again. What's up with the alternator?
Gerry
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Re: Hot Alternator
[Re: gerry_p]
#944700
05/11/09 06:36 AM
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,247
Trail Leader
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Re: Hot Alternator
[Re: gerry_p]
#944701
05/11/09 01:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,087
Body Damage is Cool
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It could be the alternator, but it could also be that the battery has a shorted or partially-shorted cell, demanding too much curent from the alternator. Take it to anyplace that sells batteries, and they should be able to twll which it is in no time.
1977 CJ-7, fiberglass body, AMC 360 w/ headers, DUI ignition, Edelbrock intake and Holley 4150 carb, TF999, Dana 300, 4.56 gears lockers, York air comp, 4" susp lift, 2" body lift, BFG 35" M-T tires, Megashifter, AGR pump & box, REP8000 winch.
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Re: Hot Alternator
[Re: BobRowe]
#944702
05/11/09 03:50 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 27
OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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Bob,
When I reconnected the battery, the alternator heated up without running the engine or even turning the key on. Couldn't it be a wiring problem and the alternator and battery are both OK?
Gerry
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 Re: Hot Alternator
[Re: gerry_p]
#944703
05/11/09 04:32 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,768
Web Wheeler
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Gerry your first comment was that the vehicle was getting harder to start...that in itself should tell you something. As for the wires...have you been messing with them? The first thing I would do is to put a voltmeter on the battery when it had been sitting over night.. I'd make sure it had 12+ Volts. If it did then I'd know it was still good. Then I'd start her up and check the volts at idle to see if the alternator was putting out 14+ Volts.. Most likely you will find one or the other that isn't quite up to snuff. Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />
professional bovine relocation specialist
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Re: Hot Alternator
[Re: gerry_p]
#944704
05/12/09 07:43 AM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,087
Body Damage is Cool
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Bob,
When I reconnected the battery, the alternator heated up without running the engine or even turning the key on. Couldn't it be a wiring problem and the alternator and battery are both OK?
Gerry Now thqt sounds like a bad alternator. If it's doing that, then the battery is forcing current through the alternator when the ignition is shut off, and the only way it can do that is if at least one of the diodes in the alternator has shorted out.
1977 CJ-7, fiberglass body, AMC 360 w/ headers, DUI ignition, Edelbrock intake and Holley 4150 carb, TF999, Dana 300, 4.56 gears lockers, York air comp, 4" susp lift, 2" body lift, BFG 35" M-T tires, Megashifter, AGR pump & box, REP8000 winch.
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Re: Hot Alternator
[Re: BobRowe]
#944705
05/21/09 12:18 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 27
OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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Yep, a bad alternator all right. I took it to a shop and they said the diodes were gone so they rebuilt it and it runs good now. By the way, this alternator is a delco "single wire" with an insulated post on the back and a two wire harness on the side. The guys at the shop plugged the harness hole with silicone and said to just tape off the harness and put the 12 volt wire to the post and call it day. I did and it works good. So why did they build it with unnecessary wires? Shop guy was out when I picked it up. Thanks for the help guys.
Gerry
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Re: Hot Alternator
[Re: gerry_p]
#944706
05/21/09 01:10 AM
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Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,247
Trail Leader
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The same alternator probably has another application which would need a direct feed off the alternator.
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