Alternator replacement

Battery, alternator, starter, cables, etc.
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MountainManJoe
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Re: Alternator replacement

Post by MountainManJoe »

I also decided to paint my battery tray while I had everything apart. It was pretty rusty.
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photo_van
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Re: Alternator replacement

Post by photo_van »

Good photos! I like the flowers you painted on your battery tray :muhaha:

I didn't pull the dog house but it would have made it easier. An open end (10mm?) on the inner nut works well to keep the terminal (and post) from turning.

Looks like you got the improved tensioner.
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okie1
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Re: Alternator replacement

Post by okie1 »

I went to NAPA and bought a bearing for the tensioner & idler pulley for $7 each, took less than 10 minuets to replace the bearings, I did this when I replaced the alternator a while back, took care of some noise I had.
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Re: Alternator replacement

Post by MountainManJoe »

That's good to know about the bearings. But just going by feel, the spring in the new tensioner was much tighter compared to the old one. Also, the old tensioner was vibrating in the direction of pivot motion.
photo_van wrote:An open end (10mm?) on the inner nut works well to keep the terminal (and post) from turning.
For me the post didn't turn at all. Friction from corrosion may be causing the the terminal to stick to the outer nut. Maybe some lube would help.
photo_van wrote:Looks like you got the improved tensioner.
Is it? I thought it looked identical to the old one, but maybe I missed something.
Last edited by MountainManJoe on Mon Dec 05, 2011 5:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Alternator replacement

Post by photo_van »

photo_van wrote:Looks like you got the improved tensioner.
Is it? I thought it looked identical to the old one, but maybe I missed something.[/quote]

An improvement over the one that (like on my van and others) self destructs at the pivot and falls off completely.
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
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CaptSquid
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Re: Alternator replacement

Post by CaptSquid »

I think I'll Plastisol my battery tray when the time comes.
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Re: Alternator replacement

Post by MountainManJoe »

My voltage is unstable while driving. It dips all the way down to 13.9V sometimes. That's not normal, right? Shouldn't it be regulated to 14.4V and stay there all the time? I'm wondering if the alternator is crappy, if this is being caused by my battery which is on its last legs (internal shorts?), or a poor connections somewhere. I'll have to get in there with a multimeter when I get a chance. Maybe hook it up to a different battery.
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Re: Alternator replacement

Post by 1Gary »

A battery with cells starting to go bad will harm a alt/regulator.It causes heat.
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Re: Alternator replacement

Post by astroturf »

TB,

It really depends on the things being run at the time.

Front and rear ac blowers on full, will pull mine to just below 14.

And returns to a normal range when I turn them down or off.

I wouldn't worry about it unless it's happening without a load.

Jim
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