91 PA Alternator?

I had my alternator changed about 6 months ago. Since then I noticed that it is charging way higher than normal. If I sit in idle, things are usually fine. If I go on long highway trips, my charge gauge jumps to 17 and is on the verge of going into the red area of the meter. My mechanic says that it's charging a little high, but it's nothing to worry about. I just want to be sure, since this is the same guy that put this alternator in. Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this and if so, is this a problem that I should be correcting? I haven't really had any "real" problems with it other than the gauge running REALLY high.
Thanks.

I had my alternator changed about 6 months ago. Since then I noticed that it is charging way higher than normal. If I sit in idle, things are usually fine. If I go on long highway trips, my charge gauge jumps to 17 and is on the verge of going into the red area of the meter. My mechanic says that it's charging a little high, but it's nothing to worry about. I just want to be sure, since this is the same guy that put this alternator in. Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this and if so, is this a problem that I should be correcting? I haven't really had any "real" problems with it other than the gauge running REALLY high.
Thanks.


Its going to fry your battery. The regulator is no good. Now I haven't had that problem yet on my 91 Park Avenue, but on my 79 Firebird I had that happen a lot. Very rarely an alternator goes bad, it is either the two charcoal pins inside the alternator that have worn out and will not charge the battery no more, but in most cases it is a bad regulator, that will go bad and forbid the charging of the battery, and that my friend seems what is bad in your car, now in my 79 Bird it sits inside the alternator all you do is take the alternator apart and replace the darn thing, if we are lucky ( i'm saying this because i have not checked my 91 yet) the regulator might be outside the alternator which would make a swap easy, but as far as I know GM they probably have it inside, I can check on my car and let you know tomorrow, but for sure your current situation is NOT good for your battery or car!

Thanks!
It also means that it's time for me to look for a new mechanic.
It's odd because this has been going on since I got the alternator replaced in August. Maybe I just got a bad one?



Its going to fry your battery. The regulator is no good. Now I haven't had that problem yet on my 91 Park Avenue, but on my 79 Firebird I had that happen a lot. Very rarely an alternator goes bad, it is either the two charcoal pins inside the alternator that have worn out and will not charge the battery no more, but in most cases it is a bad regulator, that will go bad and forbid the charging of the battery, and that my friend seems what is bad in your car, now in my 79 Bird it sits inside the alternator all you do is take the alternator apart and replace the darn thing, if we are lucky ( i'm saying this because i have not checked my 91 yet) the regulator might be outside the alternator which would make a swap easy, but as far as I know GM they probably have it inside, I can check on my car and let you know tomorrow, but for sure your current situation is NOT good for your battery or car!

Thanks!
It also means that it's time for me to look for a new mechanic.
It's odd because this has been going on since I got the alternator replaced in August. Maybe I just got a bad one?


you might got a bad one, or nothing was ever done...uh, did I say that?aahh I'm sure that would never happen... I just checked on my alternator, looks like the good ol regulator in the alternator type one...
so, basically not a big deal, you get those at all discount autos, napa parts stores, etc. you just take the alternator off, loosen the 4 screws/bolts that hold the housing, slowly pull it apart, and you will get to the regulator. It usually sits in the back of the alternator. The one thing that is tricky putting it back together is the charcoal contacts, you have to install those back into their little casing prior to reassembly springs go in first (they look like springs of a pen). Put the springs in then the charcoal pieces, make sure you don't rip off the little wires attached to them, matter of fact, you might want to replace the old ones with new ones also, ones you are at it. Push those charcoal pieces down into the casing until they clear the little hole in the casing, find a long enough thin nail that you can push through this hole from the outside, backside of the alternator.Do one piece at a time, now you can put the housing back together again, make sure before you take it apart, to remember the location of the wire connector in relatio to the front housing. Once you put the 4 bolts back in, pull the nail out from the back and the charcoal pieces will jump out of their casing against the shaft, and you are ready to go, fixed your alternator for about $20.

Of course you will have a tough time to find a mechanic to do this for you, they rather change the whole alternator...but no need to, unless the bearings are bad...

Thanks. I appreciate all the help.

Thanks. I appreciate all the help.


you're welcome