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    #1

    2G Alt failure

    the $20 re-man advance auto parts alt I found in the junkyard bit the dust today. I found the alt prob about a 1 yr ago while digging threw the yard, it was bright and shiny and was a little better performer then my old factory one so I replaced it. I still have my factory unit, but it has become a rusty paper weight due to being outside. It probably still works although I didnt have it tested.

    anyways. was leaving work this afternoon and while on my way home the AMP light came on. I figured I blew a belt or something. pulled over popped the hood belt was still there and still spinning. so I checked the battery and connections, connections were good. battery wasnt so good. it was bubbling out the vents. I turned the car off and let it sit for a min or so, smoked a cigarette. started it back up. no more AMP light on. So I started driving again. anything more then 1K RPM the AMP light was on 1K RPM to idle no light. so I figured what the hell I got a warrenty on the battery I'll drive it till it dies.

    Well I made it the entire trip from my work to my local wal-mart where I got my battery from. approx 20-30miles. I pulled the battery and had it tested, battery tested OK. didnt even need a charge.

    Went home and did some of my own testing. loosened the pos battery cable so I could remove it with the car running. When I did this the AMP light came on INSTANTLY. figuring that the light was coming on above 1K RPM I raised the idle, at 1K RPM the engine stumbled and ran like shit like it was gonna die so I believed the alt to be at fault considering the battery wasnt connected.

    Removed the alt and took it to the local Advance Auto parts store since it was thier product. even though I wasnt the origional purchaser. They tested the Alt. it wouldnt even spin up, their tester wouldnt let it. def a bad alt.

    Heres the best part. They had another re-man alt in stock and it didnt cost me a dime. not to mention I got a 90 day warrenty aswell..... WHOOOO HOOO.

    it was too dark to install the replacement alt tonight so ill do it eairly in the morning. Hopefully I didnt do any damage with my backyard testing of the charging system.
    1987 MGM 126K 2" True Duel flowmaster 40's 3" tipped exhuast, Tinted 20% all way round, individual bank A/F guages, tach.

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    #2
    time for 3g?

    1989 mercury grand marquis gs / 2014 ford focus s daily driver
    302 lopo with ho upper/ aod with trans go shift kit
    k code 3:55 posi rear/big brake swap tow package car

    Comment

      #3
      Originally posted by LtMercDaddy View Post
      ...so I checked the battery and connections, connections were good. battery wasnt so good. it was bubbling out the vents. I turned the car off and let it sit for a min or so, smoked a cigarette. started it back up...

      Glad you weren't too close to the battery when you took your smoke break.

      Batteries often omit highly flammable vapor when they fail... (hydrogen gas I believe)
      1987 LTD CROWN VICTORIA, 5.0 EFI, MAGNAFLOW DUAL EXH, RED LANDAU
      FRESH AOD, 3.27 OPEN DIFF, 57K MILES, B&M SHIFT KIT AND R134A A/C

      Comment

        #4
        Yep, hydrogen gas. The fact that it was boiling the electrolyte out of the battery leads me to believe that the alternator, rather than having failed, is working too well, in a manner of speaking--the battery is being overcharged. Is this internally or externally regulated? What's your charging voltage?

        One more thing--don't ever disconnect the battery cables with the car running. For one thing, it creates sparks that could ignite that hydrogen gas, and for another, it creates nasty voltage spikes, which the sensitive electronic components on the car don't like one bit.
        Last edited by Nathan in MI; 08-30-2007, 09:35 PM.

        2001 Ford Crown Victoria P71 - "The Fire Engine"
        1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series
        But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

        Comment

          #5
          If you have an external regulator on the driver's side fender, get it checked. After numerous alternators and regulators, I ended up going 3G with a "1-wire" upgrade. Hope your new alternator works out well. Better keep an eye on it. Maybe time for some gauges?

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by Nathan in MN View Post
            Yep, hydrogen gas. The fact that it was boiling the electrolyte out of the battery leads me to believe that the alternator, rather than having failed, is working too well, in a manner of speaking--the battery is being overcharged. Is this internally or externally regulated? What's your charging voltage?

            One more thing--don't ever disconnect the battery cables with the car running. For one thing, it creates sparks that could ignite that hydrogen gas, and for another, it creates nasty voltage spikes, which the sensitive electronic components on the car don't like one bit.

            yeah its not typically something I'd recommend eather. I dont have a multi-meter here at the homested so I was left without an option. I know about the vapors being flammable so no I wasnt smoking near it.

            over-charging I would believe aswell as when the battery was disconnected everything was super super bright until the 1K RPM at which everything bogged down like a turtle going up hill.

            I only did my backyard alt test for 1min. the auto parts store couldnt get me a volt reading on the bad alt since thier machine wouldnt let it go past the test spin. although my new one puts out 14.2v which is penty fine with me.

            What causes the condition that I was experiencing? the regulator? I kinda wish I had my meter with me. I'm kinda interrested to see what it was putting out. since the light wouldnt come on at idle. only when above 1K. I figured that with increased RPM there would be a increase in volt/amp. kinda ass backwards if ya ask me.

            I might get a bug up my ass and go throw the new one in tonight just to make sure I didnt kill anything.

            as for a 3G. that is def in the future. I already have 2 of them. neather which have been tested. I just need to fabricate a charging harness and grow some balls to do the modification. My wife says im not allowed to do any modifications that my cause a downtime of the car. its my daily driver.
            1987 MGM 126K 2" True Duel flowmaster 40's 3" tipped exhuast, Tinted 20% all way round, individual bank A/F guages, tach.

            Comment

              #7
              New Alt is in. No AMP light neather.

              Think I might fried my tach. or I disconnected the lead from the Coil on accident moving stuff.

              my other guages seem to be working properly. all my aftermarket guages share the same battery/switched ignition/ground circuit for simplicity. the light comes on but I get no needle movement so im thinking its a bad connection at the coil.

              I let it run and drove it around a little bit. since I disconnected the battery while I was exchanging the alt's and such. Lights were bright, all electronics (besides tach) working properly. all charging system connections and wires were cool to the touch, aswell as the battery, with no venting of fluid/vapor.

              Is there anything to neturalize the acid that did come out of the battery and leak into the holding area? I have some stuff at work thats in a arisol can. But I wont be back to work untill saturday and I dont want to let it sit that long.
              1987 MGM 126K 2" True Duel flowmaster 40's 3" tipped exhuast, Tinted 20% all way round, individual bank A/F guages, tach.

              Comment

                #8
                Baking soda+water will neutralize it.

                2001 Ford Crown Victoria P71 - "The Fire Engine"
                1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series
                But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

                Comment

                  #9
                  got three boxes in da fridge. dont think anyone is gonna miss one....
                  1987 MGM 126K 2" True Duel flowmaster 40's 3" tipped exhuast, Tinted 20% all way round, individual bank A/F guages, tach.

                  Comment

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