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sucky alternators or bigger problem?
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jackwashere
New User
Jan 16, 2013, 3:32 PM
Post #1 of 6
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sucky alternators or bigger problem?
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Over the past year and a half I have replaced the alternator on a Saturn Ion three times. The last one that was replaced about a week ago is going bad again. The electric auto shop claims that there must be a bigger problem. The problem is making the alternator work extra hard according to the owner and that is breaking the unit. Several people have told me that the shop is probably using cheap bottom of the line alternators that go bad. Who is right?
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 16, 2013, 7:00 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: sucky alternators or bigger problem?
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Does this have an aftermarket sound system or any after market equipment that may put extra load on the alternator?
Could be cheap alternators or something is causing them too fail because they are overworked. It is also important to be sure your battery tests good and has the rated amount of capacity. Important to make sure nothing is leaking all over the alternator. Washing an engine and getting chemicals or thermal shocking the alternator can cause failure also.
Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to amp clamp the alternator output and see what the alternator is actually doing.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jan 16, 2013, 7:02 PM)
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jackwashere
New User
Jan 16, 2013, 7:37 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: sucky alternators or bigger problem?
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No aftermarket sound system. Regular standard GM Delco radio that came with the car.
I thank you for the idea to check the battery. The battery was replaced under warranty one month ago. It went bad after about 35 months. Now I have a new battery. I replaced the alternator a week ago because a new battery did not fix the problem. New battery new alternator. The battery light on the dashboard still intermittently occasionally flashes to indicate the alternator is not charging. I'm wondering what are the implications for battery performance if it needs to be vented and I got a regular old battery from Pep Boys? After you mentioned checking the battery I did some research and found out I need a vented battery for the Ion because it is housed in the trunk. I will also check the amps rating on the battery they gave me. Three years ago I walked into Pep Boys and asked for a battery. They looked it up in their computer system and gave me one. I'm wondering if perhaps they did not give me the wrong battery and that is the source of all of these problems with the alternator and battery going bad? Either this venting feature not being present on the battery I bought kills batteries or they gave me a battery that was too small for the job?
(This post was edited by jackwashere on Jan 16, 2013, 7:59 PM)
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 16, 2013, 8:34 PM
Post #5 of 6
(1202 views)
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Re: sucky alternators or bigger problem?
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Double check the basics.....Make sure all the connections are clean & tight......Look for missing or broken body to engine ground straps....I won't go into the whole story but bad grounds can cause bearings, mounts & other things to fail prematurely.....Current gets home any way it can and it doesn't care what it goes thru to get there......just that it can go thru it....
I can't say for sure on yours but on some GMs the feed for the alt runs off the starter solenoid.....I've had some weird charging system problems on GMs that were traced back to a loose nut on the starter solenoid.......
At the rate you are going thru alternators.....It might not be a bad idea to let the electrial shop take a look at it.....
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 17, 2013, 8:06 AM
Post #6 of 6
(1182 views)
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Re: sucky alternators or bigger problem?
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Comments: Battery in trunk! OK - Some others are under a back seat or in closed quarters do need to attach to vent outside vehicle and the vent hoses should be right there waiting. If hard to find doesn't surprise me. WE ARE TALKING HYDROGEN GASSES that can not be allowed to accumulate in a closed area - disasters happen over that.
Eating up alternators. Tons of cheap junk that isn't really rebuilt but more like cleaned up and brushes perhaps. If a battery is weak or low it does really strain an alternator. Belt must be known properly tensioned.
Other: I don't know of a good bargain battery especially lately. This is not a place to save a buck. I'm not even sure what brand or place to suggest anymore as things change so fast as to who really makes what and just gets a name slapped on them. There's also a factor with how they are handled along the way. They don't do being dropped and bounced around well nor being tipped over. Gel cell ones made for wild extremes can handle that but cost a real fortune.
Other issues are they are not in full state of charge when first made new. Some will charge them but near know most don't. Batteries don't like being at part charge or low and worse they can sit unsold for many months but are marked when they were made new. You can end up with a year old new battery but the aging starts when it was made.
It is a problem and you can end up playing ping-pong with batteries and alternators each dependent on the other being good. Unsure of this popular free battery testing too. Better than not doing anythng but I don't think it is perfect to know if one is really good or not?? - T
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