Alternator 85 Caprice

OK, another question! I'm getting an intermittent "no spark" condition, only on startup, in my Caprice. It started today, and I let it idle for a while. I noticed that the alternator got warm after only one minute of idling, and then downright hot after 3 or 4 minutes. It's putting out 13 Volts across the battery posts when idling. There is some play in the connector which plugs into the alt, and wiggling the connector will change the revs a bit.

The alt is at least 8 years old and probably has 150 K on it.

Is it possible that some part inside the alt is causing my "no spark" on startup sometimes. Voltage regulator? Diodes ? Loose wiring at the connector ?

Wishful thinking, perhaps, that just replacing the alt would solve my problem, :) but thought I'd ask.

Thanks for the help. I'm doing everything I can on my end, without getting a mech involved.

Thanks

If its heating up that much, then odds are its going bad, regardless of if its causing your no spark issue. Mine after about an hour of driving only get warm.

If the altenator wasn't generating enough power to create a spark, then the ignition system would run off of the battery. This is why it seems like it wouldn't cause the no spark issue, but it is a possible cause. As you said it could be an internal issue, possibly with a diod, causing a short, which could lead to no spark. I'd replace it regardless. You don't want it seizing up on you one day while driving.

If replacing the altenator doesn't work, then it could be a number of other things... for instance:
-ESC (Electronic Spark Control) Unit
-Coil
-Pickup Coil
-Power feed wire
-ECM (Electronic Contol Module)

Good Luck