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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: wezer732 on December 28, 2008, 05:57:07 PM

Title: alternator problems
Post by: wezer732 on December 28, 2008, 05:57:07 PM

 ??? My suki is eating alternators. I have put 2 in and a new battery. the new alternators last about a week, and then no more charging for me.  HELP??

Title: Re: alternator problems
Post by: Carnage on December 28, 2008, 06:36:27 PM

might be a bad regulator


do a search and youll turn up a few alternator threads

Title: Re: alternator problems
Post by: fordguy79 on December 28, 2008, 06:40:35 PM

stock?    delco? whats it in?

Title: Re: alternator problems
Post by: wezer732 on December 29, 2008, 06:49:30 AM

it is all stock, and i don't have anything on the car that draws extra power, I don't even have a radio

Title: Re: alternator problems
Post by: Merlin93 on December 29, 2008, 10:32:59 AM

Which Suzuki do you have? Stock alternator replacement?

Can you verify that the problem is electrical?  If so, the most common cause of electrical alternator failure is heat, usually caused by continuous high output current. Measure the voltage at the alternator AND then at the battery -- they should be almost identical. A small cheap digital voltmeter ($4 from harborfreight) will do. Measure the voltage across the battery charging wire from the alternator.  It will be very, very low, but if it's more than a few millivolts, the alternator is putting out a large current. Put your hand on the alternator after it's been running a little while -- is it hot?

Stock Samurai battery is a BCI #51.  It's kinda wimpy, but there's room for larger sizes.
I've crammed a #24 in there, but a #25 is a better fit, I think. Watch that the battery (+)  post clears the hood. A short to the sheet metal would be catatrophic and would likely mean major carnage. Even a new battery can have a shorted cell, and that would keep the alternator running on high continuously.

Title: Re: alternator problems
Post by: Vagabond on December 30, 2008, 08:01:41 PM

Quote from: wezer732 on December 28, 2008, 05:57:07 PM

??? My suki is eating alternators. I have put 2 in and a new battery. the new alternators last about a week, and then no more charging for me.  HELP??

A fan belt that's not tight can produce symptoms that could cause one to suspect the alternator.  Are the alternators you put in really "new"?  How do you know that they were "good" when you put them in?

Do get a voltmeter.
This will tell you your percent of battery charge with no load:
(http://www.kczuks.com/img/VoltageCharge.gif)
What is the voltage while it is charging?