Electrical issue? -- defective/dying alternators

[grahambo]

Hi, I have lurked here (I'm generally a reserved sort) but never have never posted until now.

I apologize if this has been covered before -- I've done a search and found some discussions regarding alternators and unknown electrical issues, but nothing on the precise issue I am facing (other than a brief reference by someone that they had similar issues and decided to just sell the car). Bottom line is my daughter's 94 Laguna Blue FWD died on her on the highway yesterday coming back from college, approx. 100 miles from home. This was my main car for many years (96-07) and has been (used to be?) very reliable -- it goes without saying I would not have let my daughter drive it to and from school if I thought that anything had changed in that respect. However, in March '09, the car died and needed a new alternator. It was replaced, but then proceeded to last less than a month. The shop said it was a defective component and had an "open diode," I believe. They replaced it again. I thought that we were good to go, and had peace of mind with my daughter driving the car. Now, just over a year later, it appears that the second alternator (installed 4/09) went bad as well. Both alternators were Bosches. Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be the cause of this, aside from bad luck with replacement alternators? Does the SVX develop a phantom electrical issue that kills alternators well before their time? Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. I am leery of my daughter driving the car without precisely identifying the issue.

Thanks in advance,
Graham

[NeedForSpeed]

Originally Posted by grahambo

Hi, I have lurked here (I'm generally a reserved sort) but never have never posted until now.

I apologize if this has been covered before -- I've done a search and found some discussions regarding alternators and unknown electrical issues, but nothing on the precise issue I am facing (other than a brief reference by someone that they had similar issues and decided to just sell the car). Bottom line is my daughter's 94 Laguna Blue FWD died on her on the highway yesterday coming back from college, approx. 100 miles from home. This was my main car for many years (96-07) and has been (used to be?) very reliable -- it goes without saying I would not have let my daughter drive it to and from school if I thought that anything had changed in that respect. However, in March '09, the car died and needed a new alternator. It was replaced, but then proceeded to last less than a month. The shop said it was a defective component and had an "open diode," I believe. They replaced it again. I thought that we were good to go, and had peace of mind with my daughter driving the car. Now, just over a year later, it appears that the second alternator (installed 4/09) went bad as well. Both alternators were Bosches. Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be the cause of this, aside from bad luck with replacement alternators? Does the SVX develop a phantom electrical issue that kills alternators well before their time? Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. I am leery of my daughter driving the car without precisely identifying the issue.

Thanks in advance,
Graham

I would like to hear others experience. I replaced an alternator with a lifetime warranty Motorcraft alternator, lasted one year, then failed a 'diode' a couple of months ago. I got a replacement, hoping this was a random rebuilt alternator problem, based on inferior components. Yes, the SVX is reliable as far as alternators, usually lasting 15 years

[1986nate]

Where were these alternators bought from? If they are the rebuilds from your local auto parts stores with a lifetime warranty, they all have a high failure rate for any car. I went through 3 within 2 months on one of my old GM's. Other people here have had issues with those rebuilds as well.

[SoCal LS-L]

Call around and see if Denso alts are available. I would also replace the battery if it load tests at anything less than 85% of the rated CA.

[svxcess]

.

Bosch reman units have a higher than average failure rate. A lot of them use kits for rebuilding the rectifier bridge/ voltage regulators instead of using new circuit boards. Stay with the Hitachi/ Mitsubishi units.

If you want a high-quality reliable alternator, at a great price, you can't do better than this:

http://www.maniacelectricmotors.com/13406.html

These are rebuilt, one at a time, for our cars, using the best components. High-output 160A units are also available.


.

[NeedForSpeed]

Originally Posted by svxcess

.

Bosch reman units have a higher than average failure rate. A lot of them use kits for rebuilding the rectifier bridge/ voltage regulators instead of using new circuit boards. Stay with the Hitachi/ Mitsubishi units.

If you want a high-quality reliable alternator, at a great price, you can't do better than this:

http://www.maniacelectricmotors.com/13406.html

These are rebuilt one at a time for our cars, using the best components. High-output 160A units are also available.


.

Thanks John, I'll get a spare .

I was in the middle of a vacation when I lost the first one, got lifetime, figuring better internals, one return takes their profit, and one year later, I exchanged it.

[processengr]

We have these "Maniac Motors" units in our 97 (std rebuild) and my daughters 92 ( HO 160A) for a while now, without problems-

[grahambo]

Thanks for the very helpful information! Looks like Maniac is the way to go.

[kwren]

Originally Posted by grahambo

Thanks for the very helpful information! Looks like Maniac is the way to go.

Always!....................

Keith