Itinerant Air-Cooled

Got a rebuilt alt from Autozone and installed it. When I hooked up the battery I got a big spark. Something was definitely crossed. Pulled the alt & figured out that the B+ terminals on the rebuilt stick out farther than on the original. This causes them to be just a hair away from the cover plate and when you hook up the power it arcs causing a short. They also have a wider washer on the bottom of the terminals that hits the lip of the cover plate. Cut the terminals back with a hack saw and lined the cover plate with electrical tape along the edges.

The short had also blown out my brand new Bosch Voltage Regulator! I let Autozone know what happened. Luckily the manager was cool and he gave me a new Voltage Regulator. It's a Motorola not a Bosch because they don't carry the Bosch ones. Nice to see someone at least try to make good on these types of mistakes.

I live near a 24/7 Autozone and go there quite a bit for supplies. I have a local shop that rebuilds alternators near me. But good to know I can get one there and what to look out for. I have bought wheel cylinders from Autozone and have worked fine so far.

autozone starters are junk, I wouldn't buy an alt from them. check your yellow pages for a local auto electric rebuilder. less expaensive and better quality.

vdubyah73 wrote:autozone starters are junk, I wouldn't buy an alt from them. check your yellow pages for a local auto electric rebuilder. less expaensive and better quality.

Less expensive than $40?!?! I need to check that out. I want to get a 50 amp rebuilt as a 70.

Sluggo wrote:

vdubyah73 wrote:autozone starters are junk, I wouldn't buy an alt from them. check your yellow pages for a local auto electric rebuilder. less expaensive and better quality.

Less expensive than $40?!?! I need to check that out. I want to get a 50 amp rebuilt as a 70.

My rebuild was 75 bucks.

I forgot that all the alternators and starters are in the PNW. That makes 'em cheap for you guys. Ordered a starter last spring after price checking around the local flaps. They all had to have them shipped from the PNW.

x2 on the posts being too long. need to cut them back with a dremel to keep them from shorting out to the cover plate.

i always get alternators and starters from the zone cause theyre cheap, close, and have a warranty to boot. if the thing craps out, go get a new one for free.

however the alt currently in my bus seems to have an output issue- i see voltage rise to 14ish and drop to 12, all day every day. i hope it is the cheap alt and not something else.

ive not had any probs with autosone starters- they seem to work fine.

gotta love the smiley variety on this site =D

onion456 wrote: output issue- i see voltage rise to 14ish and drop to 12, all day

Try a good cleaning and securing of the vehicle's grounds + regulator. Have you replaced the regulator with a solid-state piece o'crap? The alternator warning lamp bulb and socket are part of the excitor circuit and help maintain a consistent output. If the bulb is not secure or if the fuse is crudded up (#12?) then the stator current can fluctuate. Check especially the ground strap connection at the body and at the battery. A tight terminal is not proof of a good connection. Removing the terminal, making it shiny both on the battery post and the respective contact area inside the terminal is called-for ... for both +/- terminals.
Colin
(if no help, you have likely lost a diode in the alternator)