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Alternator

Messages
239
Likes
212
Location
Visalia, CA, USA
#1
I need to get a new alternator, switched out my dead battery with a new one 2 weeks ago, and my battery is dead again. My FiST has 110k so I’m sure my alternator needs to be changed out. I just recently picked up a OEM fully Certified/Refurbished Alternator off eBay. Any recommendations for shops solely in the west LA or DTLA area? I have a battery charger and a jump starter on the way, but can’t travel too far. Thanks guys.

PFA
 


OP
djlawson17
Messages
239
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212
Location
Visalia, CA, USA
Thread Starter #5
Save the money from the shop costs and buy some tools(y)
Yeah that’s the plan now. My dad works at a battery shop, so he sent some stuff my way to charge my battery and what not. I also found a certified refurbished OEM alternator on eBay for a great price.
 


TyphoonFiST

9000 Post Club
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Location
Rich-fizzield
#8
You can bring it to just about any AutoZone….Oreilly...Advanced or Napa and they can install it into a Bench testing device and test the Voltage Reg., Diodes And output for FREE.
 


OP
djlawson17
Messages
239
Likes
212
Location
Visalia, CA, USA
Thread Starter #9
You can bring it to just about any AutoZone….Oreilly...Advanced or Napa and they can install it into a Bench testing device and test the Voltage Reg., Diodes And output for FREE.
Okay I see, the car is dead so I can’t really do that right now... but I have some stuff on the way already.
 


TyphoonFiST

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Rich-fizzield
#12
Then my suggestion would be to bring it to any local Parts store and let one of the Parts monkeys test the Alt. in the car to diagnose it. And they can Load test the battery also to check and see if its doing alright.
 


TyphoonFiST

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Premium Account
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Location
Rich-fizzield
#13
When the ALT. Fails it will usually illumininate The battery/ charging system indicator light. If that light is on Chances are that it is the ALT and not the Battery. But if you just Hocked a battery into it and and continued to drive it the Alt. will continue to pull power out of the battery and possibly harm the new battery in turn*
 


Messages
468
Likes
543
Location
Metro Detroit
#17
What that video neglects to show is the time/work involved leading up to that alternator removal. I would estimate that for a first timer this is a 2 hour job, so check the weather report if you have to work outside. BTW it takes about 12 minutes total to replace the alternator on a 1985 Monte Carlo SS. I would also recommend the purchase of a Milwaukee M12 ratchet, specifically the small head 35 ft.lbs. model. I have the extended large head 55 ft.lbs. Fuel version and it's a freaking tank in comparison to my small head version. If I had one of these when I had to replace the alternator in my SS I could probably have done the job in under 6 minutes.
 


Fiestig

Active member
Messages
769
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785
Location
Pacific Grove, CA, USA
#18
What that video neglects to show is the time/work involved leading up to that alternator removal
Here you go. This covers most of it:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ptkgLrcQSc&t=487s


Novice brother in-in law replaced his first ever alternator on his FiST in about 45min using these vids. Not too shabby, but if someone is quite unsure then I suppose it could be a couple hours. Any which way even if it were 4 hours of a day including taking breaks it would still be worth it. It's not really a race unless the car is stranded somewhere...lol
 


gtx3076

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,213
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1,395
Location
US
#19
My radio is acting up. I thought the battery was dying but O'Reilly checked it and said it doesn't qualify for warranty. I put the battery back in and everything seemed to have reset but a week later its acting up again.

Right now my radio won't turn off and none of the controls work. My radio is playing after turning the car off and locking the door. I run the motor to recharge it during my breaks until I can reset the battery again. Do you guys think its battery or alternator?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
 




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