Alternanator Fried....Reasons?

[94GTLaserRC]

Thanks to Jose (Str8stang036) for coming by to help with my alternator removal and moreso the help with my power pipe drilling for my Vacumm hook up. (pics on that later)

SOme of you remember my "bad alternator smell" post. Well when we took the alternator off, the back wire was fried off completely, and there was charred black mark on the back. Jose's dad said that Im lucky it didnt catch the engine on fire.

Now, the only thing I did differently electronically was put in the new Optima Battery 3 weeks ago, and replace the cable from the fuse box to the battery with a thicker (lower gauge) wire.

Could that have had anything at all to do with the alternator frying, or is it just coincidence that the alternator went bad at this time. My car is 10 years old next month, and that alternator was still the stock one.

I gave my alternator to Jose since he helped me today for him to use the casing. I have my chrome Alternator Pulley for sale if someone wants to buy it (PM me)

Thanks guys!
RC

 

[94whitesnake]

How hot does that blower get? I know the turbo guys have alternator-frying heat problems. I don't think it's related to your new battery and cable.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

How hot does that blower get? I know the turbo guys have alternator-frying heat problems. I don't think it's related to your new battery and cable.

The Vortech has been on since Last March. It gets pretty hot, but I have a 180 Tstat, Early fan, and Fluidyne. This winter so far, car hardly ever gets above 180*.

Thanks
RC

 

[str8stang036]

Your welcome Rob!! Thanks for the casing and the water neck. Just one thing, it was JOSE'S DAD NOT JAVI'S DAD that said you were lucky the car didn't catch on fire.

Here are the pics guys!!

 

[robertdale]

Wow! looks identical to the factory alternator and the duralast alternator that I had go bad on my car. The factory alt. went bad at 76,000 miles and the Autozone Lifetime warranty one lasted untill just last week(148,000). So now I'm on my third. When the factory alt. went my car caught on fire and I could smell it burning But I caught it in time because only the power wire was burning. The one last week just quit charging it didn't get hot! I think the power wire is touching the cover of the alternator causing it to ground out and burn.

 

[VibrantRedGT]

Looks like it was deep fried.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Looks like it was deep fried.

Yes Sir-ry

Robert: that IS the stock one..lasted to just over 80K Miles

Jose..My bad about the dad...EDITED!

Guess I should invest in a couple of cans of these

RC

 

[jetuomi]

funny you say it could be heat related, ever since my car started over heating, the alternator started smelling like that as well.. I'm going to get mine replaced and fix that cooling issue too...

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Again, dont think it's heat related...Just wondering if changing to a heavier gauge wire and Optima battery would do that, but dont think so!
RC

 

[jetuomi]

Again, dont think it's heat related...Just wondering if changing to a heavier gauge wire and Optima battery would do that, but dont think so!
RC

Hmm.. could be, mine came about through heat tho as I'm running same batter/stock wiring.??

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Anyone Else reading this run an Optima battery?
Any problems with Alternator?

I think Ill have a separate post for Optinam Battery Users.

RC