Windstang
Member
And since I posted the above note, my OEM alternator went bad. Car died on the road without warning. Well I did have a warning - the radio started going on and off and I thought the radio was going bad. Then I looked at the voltage gauge and I was down to 10 volts. Dropped fast from then on until the car died.
So took the alternator off, took the back off and it looks like the slip rings got scrubbed up a bit probably from too many amps flowing through it. I debated trying to resurface with some emery cloth but then thought I'd buy a 2010 unit and just replace it to avoid future issues. I got the unit from Rockauto and installed it and as others said I had to drill out the alternator side hog ring on the power cable and 'stretch' the wire harness so the voltage reg connector would reach. Done in an hour and now the voltage is rock steady at 13.8-14 even when switching lights and vent blower on and off. Gotta love these forums!
So took the alternator off, took the back off and it looks like the slip rings got scrubbed up a bit probably from too many amps flowing through it. I debated trying to resurface with some emery cloth but then thought I'd buy a 2010 unit and just replace it to avoid future issues. I got the unit from Rockauto and installed it and as others said I had to drill out the alternator side hog ring on the power cable and 'stretch' the wire harness so the voltage reg connector would reach. Done in an hour and now the voltage is rock steady at 13.8-14 even when switching lights and vent blower on and off. Gotta love these forums!