Busted Alternator... Suggestions?

[Nexagen]

The car: A 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2.4L SOHC with 79,000 Miles

Upgrades: Cold Air Intake, Magnaflow Exhaust, NGK Iridium IX Sparkplugs, Magnecor Ignition Sparkplug Wires, Falken Azenis St-115 Tires mounted on X<9Lbs Racing Rims 17 inch.

Weight Reduction= Spare Tire and jack removed

Est Hp= 175+

The Symptoms =
Car starts fine but after 2 seconds of idling chokes and wants to shut down. RPM gauge reads 700 at 1st second then 2nd second reads 500 and 3rd second goest to even 200 RPM then goes back up to 500 RPM and wants to stay at that RPM level.

When the car is running at 3000 RPM it runs fine and accelerates fine. But feels like it wants to shut down after coming to a 0 MPH stop.

The Blood and Sweat:

6 Quarts of Royal Purple 5W30 with a can of Engine Restore
14 Quarts of Royal Purple MAX ATF ( Automatic Transmission Fluid )
1 Pint of Chevron Techron Fuel Injection Cleaner every tank full

The Power:
Diehard Gold Battery Group 86


THE PROBLEM:

I had the Sears Diehard battery tested at a local Autozone and tested out at 12.6 volts or something like that. All the electronics such as lights and radio appear to be working fine when key is in ignition.

So upon this test I concluded that it was not the battery that was causing the problem.


I then removed the negative battery cable and the car shut down the moment I took it off the battery terminals. I tried this again a second time and the same effect happened.

My conclusion is that the Alternator is causing the problems and I will need to replace this.

I wanted to know where it is that I could replace this besides the dealer and I am looking to spend LESS than $175 just for the part.



Also any suggestions supporting or otherwise to my problem would help.
Like a website address or something.

Once again the car is a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse 4 Cyl.

Thanks and any help is appreciated!

-Nexagen

[Sleepr awd]

you can always get a used one from a junkyard or spring for a lighter, better performing aftermarket alternator...though i dont' know where you get them i have heard they do exist...my best .02

[johnnyBgood]

If your car is sputtering like that, and you have power after driving, you do not have a dead alternator, or else your battery would be drained.

it sounds like an ignition problem. Check your spark plugs, check your wires (are they made for the 3G?) and check your ignition system. It is either that or a clogged fuel system.

And FYI, you do not have 175hp. More along the lines of 114whp. Sorry to bust your bubble, but even the V6's sometime struggle to get 175whp, and those are the manuals. auto's get in the 140whp range.

[96TSi]

go back to autozone and have them do an alternator test. its the same thing as a battery test but the stick the voltmeter clips in a different spot. i check mine once a week during my routine checkup