Alternator Issues
10-23-13, 04:03 PM
#1
Alternator Issues
The o-ring on the distributor was failing and leaking oil on the alternator.
Eventually the Alternator went out an stranded me at my University Library.
Insurance paid for the car to be towed to my house.
Ordered the O-ring.
Took the alternator off, used a vise to loosen the bearing and then took the alternator apart.
Used this Electric parts cleaner called Lectra-Motive to get oil off the brushes and stator.
Also used it to clean off the wound wires on the outside and anywhere I saw oil.
Put the alternator back together.
Pulled the distributor, spotted the oil leak right by the small o-ring.
Replaced both the small and large O-ring.
Re-installed the distributor.
Re-installed the alternator.
Now, 30 minutes ago.
Start the car, car runs fine, alternator is charging the battery, DMM is reading 14.3 Volts.
Drive around the block and idle it etc for maybe 20 minutes.
Bring it back to the garage.
Notice when I park it before I turn the engine off that the battery light is on.
Check the battery with a DMM, now reading 12.4 volts.
Obviously the alternator stopped charging.
Turn the car off.
5 minutes later start the car, again its running fine, the alternator is charging again, DDM reading 14.3 volts.
Just let it sit in the garage watching the gauges to see if the battery light turns on.
After ~7 minutes the battery light turns on.
DMM the battery again, down to 12.1 volts.
Alternator not charging the battery anymore.
Turn the car off.
Anyone have any ideas what might be going on? Do you think I may have messed up somewhere or is there something that may be causing the problem? Could this be a simple fix like a loose plug on the back of the alternator, or do ya'll think I need to buy a new alternator?
Eventually the Alternator went out an stranded me at my University Library.
Insurance paid for the car to be towed to my house.
Ordered the O-ring.
Took the alternator off, used a vise to loosen the bearing and then took the alternator apart.
Used this Electric parts cleaner called Lectra-Motive to get oil off the brushes and stator.
Also used it to clean off the wound wires on the outside and anywhere I saw oil.
Put the alternator back together.
Pulled the distributor, spotted the oil leak right by the small o-ring.
Replaced both the small and large O-ring.
Re-installed the distributor.
Re-installed the alternator.
Now, 30 minutes ago.
Start the car, car runs fine, alternator is charging the battery, DMM is reading 14.3 Volts.
Drive around the block and idle it etc for maybe 20 minutes.
Bring it back to the garage.
Notice when I park it before I turn the engine off that the battery light is on.
Check the battery with a DMM, now reading 12.4 volts.
Obviously the alternator stopped charging.
Turn the car off.
5 minutes later start the car, again its running fine, the alternator is charging again, DDM reading 14.3 volts.
Just let it sit in the garage watching the gauges to see if the battery light turns on.
After ~7 minutes the battery light turns on.
DMM the battery again, down to 12.1 volts.
Alternator not charging the battery anymore.
Turn the car off.
Anyone have any ideas what might be going on? Do you think I may have messed up somewhere or is there something that may be causing the problem? Could this be a simple fix like a loose plug on the back of the alternator, or do ya'll think I need to buy a new alternator?
10-23-13, 04:17 PM
#2
what year is your SC? as far as i know the power steering was on top of my alternator and thats what soaked my Alternator, still hasn't gone out on me but i had a spare ready for when the time came, to replace my PS Pump. Idk if post 97's change the layout a bit. and oil in the distributor? I haven't really much knowledge when it comes to the distributor so I can't really say much.
10-23-13, 04:42 PM
#3
what year is your SC? as far as i know the power steering was on top of my alternator and thats what soaked my Alternator, still hasn't gone out on me but i had a spare ready for when the time came, to replace my PS Pump. Idk if post 97's change the layout a bit. and oil in the distributor? I haven't really much knowledge when it comes to the distributor so I can't really say much.
The Sc300 has the distributor above the alternator.
Both leak and can cause the alternator to break.
I just drive an SC300. It's a 92 if that still matters.
10-23-13, 08:13 PM
#5
Not thoroughly. I just cleaned up all the connections and the battery terminals. All the cable are surrounded by loom. Once the sun comes up tomorrow morning I'll try to be a bit more thorough with the check to see if any of the cables need replacing. I may just do a big 3 upgrade and be done with it. Sometime in the near future I want to upgrade the stereo system so might as well.
10-26-13, 06:27 PM
#7
Yep, the main cables were all continuous.
Just decided to get it over with and replace the alternator and battery. I'm pretty disappointed I couldn't clean the alternator to satisfaction, but I guess I wasn't completely capable of doing so.
Just decided to get it over with and replace the alternator and battery. I'm pretty disappointed I couldn't clean the alternator to satisfaction, but I guess I wasn't completely capable of doing so.
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