alternator + check engine?

[dmh]

g20 stock, auto

I have been having an intermittent simultaneous illumination of the Brake and Battery dash lights when the car is idling. From searching the web, it appears that this is a good indication my alternator is dying. In a new development, I acquired a Check Engine light Sat. night. Three questions:

1. Will a dying alternator set an engine code?

2. Should I be looking for an Hitachi or a Mitsubishi rebuilt alternator?

3. Anybody have any experience with ThePartsBin.com? They have a Bosch rebuilt one for $117!

[frogg]

I would probably suggest going with an OEM alternator.
I suggest this because of how many people have complained of their rebuilt alternators going out after about a week.

[notafred]

Wow, I have a similar problem. When I start my car, the warning lights will flicker and I'll here some relays clicking. I'll kick up the idle and everthing becomes normal. During normal driving, the seat belt chime would sometimes come on. I spent several months trying to find loose connections, but I think I'll need to replace the alternator. It seems as if the alternators were undersized.

I think I have the Mitsubishi alternator. I'll know for sure when I pull it out. Is the Hitachi interchangeable with the Mitsubishi?
Anyone find out the best place to buy one?
Anyone try to replace the brushes only?

[boingo82]

Originally posted by dmh
g20 stock, auto

I have been having an intermittent simultaneous illumination of the Brake and Battery dash lights when the car is idling. From searching the web, it appears that this is a good indication my alternator is dying. In a new development, I acquired a Check Engine light Sat. night. Three questions:

1. Will a dying alternator set an engine code?

Nope. Check engine light is emissions system problem. However, the Brake/Batt light prob is definitely your alternator. It's not charging your batt. with the proper voltage. For ECU diagnosis, http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4291851895

[dmh]

The check engine light was a bad O2 sensor (used ecu method to get code). Replaced and cleared ecu.
The other indicators were due to the alternator. I replaced it with a rebuilt one (I know, I am not supposed to...) and it now works fine.

Thanks.

[boingo82]

:impressed: Wow, that was FAST! Funny, I have a 1994, stock, auto, and replaced those same exact two parts about a month and a half ago.

[williega]

FYI to all Involved,
I had the ABS, Brake and Battery lights come on, and a dead battery followed; it did turn out to be a bad alternator.
I followed the advise given on another message to test the alternator: after starting the engine, either of the battery cables can be disconnected; if the alternator is bad, the engine will die, if the alternator is good, the engine will continue to run.
Be ready to spend a few hours because of the cramped space; both the coolant hose (from radiator) above and the metal receiver that connects to the engine have to come off.
A rebuilt hitachi alternator (I know it is recommended that it be new) did the trick and all lights went off.

Thank you all for exellent advise.