02 Lesabre Alternator gets hot

[fr84020]

My lesabre alternator gets very hot while driving. I replaced the old one and it is continuing to do so. Anybody got any suggestions

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, under normal conditions yes it does get hot and the aluminum housing absorbs engine heat also. Check for normal voltage output, did you replace it because of this perceived problem.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by fr84020

My lesabre alternator gets very hot while driving. I replaced the old one and it is continuing to do so. Anybody got any suggestions

this year I found a battery that had shorted cells and this caused an alternator failure...have the battery LOAD tested...

the replacement alternator must be of the correct amperage or larger,,,if not this too will cause the alt. to operate at a high temp...
aftermarket electrical equiptment will cause this also.

If you can keep your hand on it it is OK....If not ,,may be a problem..

[fr84020]

Thanks for the responses. I replaced the alternator because it was warm enough you could not comfortably hold your hand on it and you would occassionally smell a burnt smell. I had already replaced the battery about a month ago. The other one run down during the first cold spell

[happydog500]

My thoughts are if you have an alternator that is getting hot, you replace it, the new one gets hot, it's probable OK.

Keep in mind, I'm not there, and can only give a guess being over the internet.

I say this, because I have a friend who plays his Stereo for a while. After a couple hours, he goes back and feels the Amp in his receiver. He freaks out because his amp is hot.

I answered, no kidding, that's what amps do, they get hot. The stereo has vents in the top and side for that very reason. There is nothing wrong with a receiver getting hot after playing it for a couple hours (Of course, not talking about if you blow an amp, or that nothing can go wrong, just that if an amp gets hot after playing it, that itself, is not a "problem" with it).

This same guy, fly's model airplanes. They are big RC Planes. He has one that can fly (electric) for 25 minutes on a charge. After only 5 minutes, he brings it in for a landing. As soon as it stops, he runs over and quickly takes it apart and feels the motor. "it's warm" then he feels the battery's, 'there warm'. We have to stop for a half hour to, "let things cool a bit." Meanwhile, everybody else is still flying. I explain that an electric motor is supposed to get warm. The motor is made to get warm. 5 minutes of flying does not wreck a motor. "I know, but I just don't want to wreck my motor" he says.

I find usually I'm a wimp when it comes to hot. When I grab a cup of coffee, I say Och! that's hot! and put it down, where friends say, 'it's not hot' and pick theirs up.

You could touch the alternator and think it's really hot, where a mechanic would say it's normal.

Now, after I post this, you may find the problem, and I'm way off. If I understand right, if two of them are getting "hot", chances are it might be normal hot.

Keep in mind I hang out with the, Hot fanatic and it could be affecting my judgment on this. Just wanted to give my opinion.

Chris.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by fr84020

Thanks for the responses. I replaced the alternator because it was warm enough you could not comfortably hold your hand on it and you would occassionally smell a burnt smell. I had already replaced the battery about a month ago. The other one run down during the first cold spell

once again did you add electrial equipment? is the alternator the same amperage....? did you change the headlights to higher amperage ???

these things will cause this heat...there is NO OEM allowance for any add on electrical loads,,,,....