alternator tips

If anybody is having problems with their alternator, here are a few things I figured out with mine.

Do not boost with your metro. My 55 amp alternator can't run my car and boost another. I blew internal diodes doing that.

The existing bolts for mounting do not hold the alternator down tightly. I replaced the bottom bolts with one long bolt that can be tightened from both sides, resulting in a big improvement.

Be careful working on your alternator. The engine coolant temperature sensor is locted on the throtle body in close proximty and is easily damaged (still havn't fixed mine.)

My 95 metro has no tension bolt, you have to do this by pushing back on the alternator. When the serpentine belt can't quite be flipped over, you have about the right amount of tension.

Inspect your belt periodically. Oil causes the belt to break down and eventually fall off, this is a problem since oil leaks seem to always get on the belt!


Good Luck!

Carpenter
Thanks for the post but I'm confused on the line about not boosting . Could you clarify your reasoning on this?
Thanks
Unbe

Blowing diodes from jumping another car isn't a "too much load" problem. That's a "I hooked them up backwards" or "I used 12 gauge jumper cables" problem. The diodes pop when you have a poor ground(VERY poor) or when you hook the jumper cables up backwards and start the car. Good way to blow up a battery too.

Geo
I understand the reversed polarity problem but why would a bad ground hurt anything?
Unbe

I have only ever used heavy duty booster cables, so that was not my problem. The way the tech at the alternator shop explained it to me is; you have a 55 amp alternator, subtract about 30 amps to fire your spark plugs, a few more amps for other electrical and then try boosting a car that may require 40 or 50 amps and you've way surpassed what your alternator is capable of. You don't have to take it from him if you don't want to. What I know is I fried a relatively new alternator in a very short time, and his explanation made sense to me. I bought my second rebuilt alternator from that same shop, and after two years it has given me no grief, unlike the first one.

30 amps to fire spark plugs?

Need Help On Removing An Alternator On 96 Geo Metro Please Help

Thanks for the info Carpenter
Unbe

Tools needed: A socket set, 15mm usually. A pry bar to use as leverage when tigthening the belt, and a light.

First, remove your dip stick and put it in a safe place. unhook the electrical wiring from the top right. Then loosen all three bolts (one on the top, and two on the bottom.) Once loose, tilt it forward to relieve tension on the belt, remove the belt, then take the bolts out. You will need to work from underneath to get at the bottom right bolt, so have your car jacked up and blocked. The alternator is heavier than it looks, so be ready. Get the new one in place and put the bottom bolts in first. I find it easier to install and remove the alternator from under the car. Push hard on the alternator to get lot's of tension on the belt. Using your fingers, it should be hard or almost impossible to turn the belt over, when you have the correct tension. Snug up all the bolts, but do not over do it, I broke one off and had to drill it out (not easy). Make sure everything is connected again.

Good Luck,

Jai

Oh, one more thing. There will be a ground wire connected as well. Should be a phillips screwdriver to take that off. Reconnect that before you mount the new alternator. There isn't enough room to get a screwdriver in after the alternator is mounted.

Jai

A comment on boosting:

When you give someone a boost, the small size of the alternator should not be a problem since the battery is actually supplying most of the power. You battery can start your car so it should be able to start another car without any problems specially with the car running since you have that extra 55 Amp from the alternator.

Seb