Alternator

[drbandkgb]

So I hate mud.. With a passion.. But this weekend I had to drive through some... (Not because I wanted)

Well Im pretty sure I killed my Alternator.. Normal code for this is Dash light.. Brake>Battery lights

On the 2000 Xterra I popped a Brake>Battery>AT/Temp light..

The lights went off on my way home from Woolys but.. That morning they popped up again... The Alternator is whining pretty good too.. So I ordered a refurbed Alt and will rebuild this one..

I will do a write up on both the how to install and how to rebuild...

 

[Bklyn.X]

Well that sucks. Did ya clean it off and spray it with some WD40? If it's not squealing that will sometimes clear it up. Is it not charging the battery? Could be just mud/water in the connections.

 

[drbandkgb]

I have tried to wash it out once I got home.. and I tried yesterday to get some WD40 in it.. Its whining like my last X did before it died..
I did buy some silicone spray to help the new one no screw up

Worst part is trying to get to the damn thing..

 

[Roadwarrior]

Is there not an option for you to replace it with the 125 amp Quest alternator?

 

[granitex]

Yes there is, I even keep a spare 125 amp at home just for this reason.

 

[drbandkgb]

Yeah.. The Quest Alt.. Generally new they run quiet a bit more... and I believe you can rebuild the old one to run more power..

 

[Xterradude05]

That sucks.. This must be the week for bad luck with the X's.. haha.

 

[drbandkgb]

Oh it wasnt bad luck... Just a Alt in the wrong spot...

 

[Ricel]

Welcome to my live buddy. Ie gone through 4 of them. Came to find out the quest one from autozone is 40 less then the Xterra one. Got a gift card to prove it!
Just get a 1/4" longer belt or a heat gun and a buddy might help.
I've got my last one I didn't drop as a core sitting in the family room waiting for me to rebuild it as a trail spare.

 

[AbuseTheElderly]

Since the topic came up, does anyone have a part number for a good-fitting belt on a first gen with a quest alternator? I went into autozone with the original belt and told them to give me the closest larger size and after 20 minutes they came back to the front with a belt that was too large. The replacement maxed out the adjuster bolt and never got the belt tight enough. I took it back but I would like a good fitting belt. It was a pain putting a stock size belt on a quest alternator.

 

[Nesty]

I have some guys at the local Autozone which we buy from a lot and they told me the stock belt is 31.5" in length. They gave me a number for a belt that is 32" in length that might do the job. Go to the Autozone website and type in 5050320 Its a Dayco 5 rib belt $14.99.

 

[AbuseTheElderly]

Thank you, I think the one I was sold was an AC Delco belt. It plain did not fit, must have been either 32.5" or 33".

 

[Ricel]

heat gun and two screw drivers! and a couple beers... possibly a buddy.

Just like mounting a bike tire. hehe

 

[AbuseTheElderly]

Honestly, the only way I was able to get the OEM-size belt on was to put the alternator in place and put the belt around it, then pry the alternator up and thread the top front bolt in. Then remount the adjuster bracket (I had to remove it to let the alternator get as close to the crank pulley as possible) and adjuster hardware, tighten all of it down all the way to straighten the alternator. After that I had to pry the alternator up again to line up the rear alternator bolt. Once all the bolts were back in place I loosened the ones I tightened down and adjusted the belt tension and tightened all bolts back up. I don't even think a heatgun and screwdrivers would have done it without damaging the belt.

 

[granitex]

You can either swap pullies, get a longer belt, or roll the stock belt over the lip of the pully. I have done all three options, and rolling the belt is by far the quickest and easiest.

All you do is use a ratchet to turn the pully when the belt is held up to the lip of the pully and turn the ratchet to walk the belt over the lip. The hardest part is getting both hands on the front of the pully at the same time.

 

[NOXIOUS007]

Did you ever pick my old spare from Chuck's sister?

 

[drbandkgb]

Not yet Ian... I need to get that set up so Luke could pick it up maybe next week

 

[TJTJ]

While I'm thinking of it...when you get the new alternator, and its still clean, etc...spray it with Silicone Spray, inside and out....which gives it a water repellant coating on the windings, etc...so the crud just sloughs back out again instead of gumming it all up like before.

Its not a 100% solution, but I all but live in acidic bog water and mud, and, I am still using the same exact oem 80 amp POS the truck CAME WITH...and it keeps on working no matter how many times its dunked and drowned, etc...with a few clean-outs over the years....but, under my hood looks like an adobe village, and its surviving there anyway.

 

[drbandkgb]

Already bought the spray New Alt came in today as well... So tomorrow or Friday ill fix this issue

 

[Ricel]

Teach me your ways TJ!

 

[drbandkgb]

Man I forgot how much fun changing the alternator was... 2.5 hours of trying to fit my hands in a area the size of a golf ball... unch:

 

[drbandkgb]

But it did fix my issue

 

[TJTJ]

Glad you finally got it repaired!

My arthritis makes this sort of thing really hard for me...so I don't look forward to the next time I need to do this, and with a gazillion miles on the damn OEM 80 amp POS, a lot of it through acidic pine barrens bog water and slurry/mud, etc...It MUST die eventually, it would be supernatural if it were to survive much longer.

This is what my engine bay would look like if I detailed it.

 

[AbuseTheElderly]

Holy hell! Is your SES light on TJ?

 

[TJTJ]

Holy hell! Is your SES light on TJ?

Its been on since ~ 2006.

 

[pro2amendment]

So what is the whining from? That's whats up w mine... getting really loud so getting a replacement in before it goes... I noticed it starting over a year ago but was so subtle couldn't figure it out... its getting real loud now but still works fine.... thought maybe a bearing???

The lights went off on my way home from Woolys but.. That morning they popped up again... The Alternator is whining pretty good too.. So I ordered a refurbed Alt and will rebuild this one..

I will do a write up on both the how to install and how to rebuild...

 

[drbandkgb]

Mud is what killed mine... It kills the bushings and bearings

 

[NismoFire]

The last couple of weeks, almost every time I've gotten in my truck to go to work (or come home, or just driving in general) my BRAKE light comes on. I'm one of those communists that never uses the e-brake, just leaves the transmission in gear, so I don't leave my brake engaged and drive off. It also STAYS on for a good 10-15min, if it even goes off at all. I notice that it comes on mainly first thing in the morning, or after long periods (more than 2-3hrs) of not running.



In case you can't see the pic clearly, the two green lights are the Cruise/Set lights. The red light beside them is the seatbelt light (I don't wear it). The Brake light is the top right red light. Yes, this was taken while driving down the interstate.

 

[drbandkgb]

Sounds like your Alt is dying

 

[NismoFire]

That's what I'm afraid of. No squealing or anything like that, and I've had it hooked up to my OBD scanner since then and it's charging fine, for right now. I haven't seen anything less than 11.5v produced. It stays around 12.4-12.7v.

 

[drbandkgb]

Could be a weak battery

 

[NismoFire]

I guess this calls for a trip to Auto Zone to find out. Will post back with results.

 

[NismoFire]

Results:

Went to AZ first, they said both were good. Went to Advanced, since they're 2 blocks down, and their test was a little different, but results were still good.

AZ's new tester is great for checking batteries, but I'm not confident in its alternator testing abilities. Advanced actually put it under a load (high beams, radio, and AC going) and tested both batt and alt under a load.


I'm wondering if I might have hit the parking brake doing my PML.

 

[J Everett]

You may have a bad wheel speed sensor. That would certainly trip the brake light.

 

[NismoFire]

That would figure, since I've only been running 32s for about 6 weeks. I didn't have this problem before then.

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

Could be low brake fluids. Have you checked that?

 

[NismoFire]

I'll add it to the list. Thanks.

 

[xterror04]

I bet your just low on brake fluid, It happens even if you dont have a leak brake fluid actually expands and contracts alot, just add a bit and you will be fine, if it goes away after a few minutes im sure that its just low, an alternator will be if the battery and brake light stay solid on, trust me Ive been through a few lol

 

[NismoFire]

I'll check it when I go out to change my bulbs.

 

[Xtacular]

The red light beside them is the seatbelt light (I don't wear it).

You're an EMT and don't wear a seat belt?