alternator question

mikeemo · 02-21-2007, 08:23 PM

Im working on a 96 Jimmy for my son. I just did plugs, cap, rotor, wires, belt, all of the filters, and fixed a whole bunch of little crap that we found as we were doing the tune up. I still have to flush the cooling system this weekend and I have to replace the oil filter adapter that the filter screws on to. We just bought this truck last month and Im trying to get it road ready so my son can drive it to work and school with no major problems. I went to change the oil and it seems the old filter may have been cross threaded. It was hard coming off and the new one would barely screw on. Thats why Im replacing the filter adapter. The new filter went on all the way after messing with it but I dont want any grief next time. But my big question is about the alternator. Its seems to be putting out around 14 volts. But the thing is SCREAMING hot to touch. I mean its like touching a frying pan on the stove !!! Im not sure but I think its frying itself due to a bad regulator. This truck was kept in a "cover it" tent under a car cover for the last 4 years and only driven a few hundred miles a year since the second owner bought it. The problem was the tent had no vents so everything was wet. The guy had the alternator replaced when it crapped out while he was on a road trip last year but I think the dampness may have corroded the regulator on the new one. I had to replace the front wiper motor and when I took the cover off the pulse board it was totally corroded. My question is are these alternators known to get hot or should it be cool enough to touch ? I dont want to have to lay out much more $$ if this is the way they are. Sorry for the long post. Thanks !!!

juddspaintballs · 02-21-2007, 10:09 PM

i have the same vehicle and my alternator gets quite warm but not untouchable. i can come off a 55 mile drive down the road right now and put my hand on my alternator and its quite warm but i can keep my hand there for several seconds. the regulator could be bad, but it would also not hurt to replace the charge wire from the alt to the batt when you change the alternator. get one from NAPA or autozone or advance auto and the new alt will come with a lifetime guarantee.

***orangesonoma*** · 02-22-2007, 01:11 AM

mine gets pretty toasty but mine is also wound up to 140 amps...

02-21-2007, 08:23 PM	#1
mikeemo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1 Location: User is: OffLine	alternator question Im working on a 96 Jimmy for my son. I just did plugs, cap, rotor, wires, belt, all of the filters, and fixed a whole bunch of little crap that we found as we were doing the tune up. I still have to flush the cooling system this weekend and I have to replace the oil filter adapter that the filter screws on to. We just bought this truck last month and Im trying to get it road ready so my son can drive it to work and school with no major problems. I went to change the oil and it seems the old filter may have been cross threaded. It was hard coming off and the new one would barely screw on. Thats why Im replacing the filter adapter. The new filter went on all the way after messing with it but I dont want any grief next time. But my big question is about the alternator. Its seems to be putting out around 14 volts. But the thing is SCREAMING hot to touch. I mean its like touching a frying pan on the stove !!! Im not sure but I think its frying itself due to a bad regulator. This truck was kept in a "cover it" tent under a car cover for the last 4 years and only driven a few hundred miles a year since the second owner bought it. The problem was the tent had no vents so everything was wet. The guy had the alternator replaced when it crapped out while he was on a road trip last year but I think the dampness may have corroded the regulator on the new one. I had to replace the front wiper motor and when I took the cover off the pulse board it was totally corroded. My question is are these alternators known to get hot or should it be cool enough to touch ? I dont want to have to lay out much more $$ if this is the way they are. Sorry for the long post. Thanks !!!
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02-21-2007, 10:09 PM	#2
juddspaintballs I pee standing Age: 24 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,097 Location: Union Bridge, MD User is: OffLine	Re: alternator question i have the same vehicle and my alternator gets quite warm but not untouchable. i can come off a 55 mile drive down the road right now and put my hand on my alternator and its quite warm but i can keep my hand there for several seconds. the regulator could be bad, but it would also not hurt to replace the charge wire from the alt to the batt when you change the alternator. get one from NAPA or autozone or advance auto and the new alt will come with a lifetime guarantee.
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02-22-2007, 01:11 AM	#3
*orangesonoma* forum idiot Age: 31 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 46,857 Location: Indian Trail, NC User is: Online	Re: alternator question mine gets pretty toasty but mine is also wound up to 140 amps...
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