Help with 3G alternator

[woody258]

Ok, I had upgraded my 75amp to a 95 some time ago. I wasn't happy with it and got a "deal" on a 130amp 3G on ebay. The guy said it was a OEM rebuilt with 500mi. Got it today and it appears to be the right one, ears at 180 deg etc..and the hole is threaded. But when I turn the shaft, I hear a little squeak inside and the case looks pretty dirty for 500 mi. I'll go ahead and hook it up and see or maybe have a local shop take a look at it first. There are no part #'s on the case, just Motorsport, is there a way to be sure it's a 130 amp? Thanks for your input!

 

[04sleeper]

You can take it to most any auto parts chain and they can test it for free.
Sounds like he might be lying to you about the 500 miles thing a little but as long as it works and you got a good deal on it.

Heres what it should look like for comparison.

 

[woody258]

Thanks Sleeper for the pic. Looks the same to me. I'll see if someone can check it out for me. I'm a little worried about the squeak, hoping it doesn't need bearings or sumpin.

 

[04sleeper]

No problem.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Darkwriter77]

Maybe a bad bearing, maybe not. You'll know for sure when you put it on a bench-tester if it's got a bad bearing, as it'll make a hideous squeal/whine or a rapid click/buzz noise. I can take almost a third of the alternators off a parts store shelf, give 'em a spin, and they make all sorts of weird squeaks, scrapes, and brushing sounds. Reman units are kinda hit and miss, and sometimes all the reman companies do is just throw on a new voltage regulator, sandblast/paint, and rebox 'em.

How good a deal is a "good deal?" Like, fifty bucks? You can score a lifetime-warrantied reman 3g alt from most parts shacks for around $150 - you can cheat 'em on the core by turning in your 2g alt if the parts dude isn't wise to what you're doing. Ummm ... not that I would ever do something sneaky like that, myself, of course...

 

[woody258]

Thanks Dark. Yeah, I paid $65 shipped so I'm not in it too much. I'll take it somewhere to get it checked. The case looks kind a ****ty so I'll try and clean it up with scotchbrite or something if it checks out.

 

[8950HO]

The little squeak you hear is probably the brushes riding on the rotor slip rings.

 

[woody258]

Well, I took it to Schucks and it tested fine. Put it on after altering the bracket. I'm going to swap the stock pulley for my ASP alluminum which is actually a tiny bit smaller. Going to see if it helps my low idle charge. I may still end up going with the overdrive alt pulley. I've got an auto tranny and hate my lights dimming at stop lights. Wish I had an amp tester to confirm it's putting out more than my 95amp but I'm sure it probably is.

 

[HISSIN50]

Woody, if your idle is a hair low, it will affect the output a great deal at hot idle with a load on the system. Bumping the idle might help a little.........

Good luck.

 

[04sleeper]

Do you run an underdrive crank pulley?

 

[woody258]

Yeah Sleeper I run ASP pulleys. I swapped the stock 3g for my ASP which is slightly smaller and it seemed to help a bit at idle. I think I'll be ok it I edge up the idle a bit.