AC-Delco Alternators

[ViPER1313]

I was wondering if anyone else has tried these alternators and what their experiences have been. I ask this because the battery light on my car glows ever so slightly (invisible during the day and only at idle) with my current AC-Delco alt, and it did with my last one as well before it died. I also test drove another SHO for a forum member over the summer (which was equipped with a Delco unit) and the car had the same barely glowing alt light at idle.

The charge from the alternator is definitely weak at best - if I drive around in stop and go traffic w/ the headlights on, stereo playing and heater cranked, the tach will start to go crazy if I go over ~4000rpm - when I back off on the current load everything returns to normal. I know this is not a poor connection issue either - every terminal (starter, fuse box, alt connections, battery) has been cleaned, my engine has been regrounded, and the fusible links on the charging circuit have been replaced.

 

[wood_e]

AC delco makes crappy electronics... look at GM products. The alt in my camaro went after 70,000 miles... my friend's lumina... 65,000 now those were original units... my SHO's alt was still going strong after 120k when I replaced it because i got a good deal on a rebuilt one.

 

[SHOtimer]

I would buy a Motorcraft one. People seem to have the best bet with those. You can get remaned Motorcraft ones at www.rockauto.com.

My original alt is still going with 168k on it.......

Doug

 

[justin mccluske]

what he said

 

[ViPER1313]

I'm sorry - I should have explained the reasoning behind my question more thoroughly. I'm not in need of an alternator at the moment, and I know Motorcraft units are the way to go (now) - the thing is I will burn through 50 of these things at the expense of AdvanceAuto before I drop $400 on a Motorcraft unit. I'm just trying to find out if anyone else has noticed the same issue with these remanufactured Delco alternators (dim light at idle / poor charging overall.) I want to know if this is a manufacturers defect common to all of the units or I just have bad luck picking them out.

My guess is that the Delco alternators use an undersized pulley - I will measure mine when I get a chance. Like I said, all 3 Delco units I have seen (2 on my car, one on a separate 92') have the very dim alt light at idle, and both of mine have sucked in prolonged high drain, city driving situations.

 

[SHOtimer]

I'm sorry - I should have explained the reasoning behind my question more thoroughly. I'm not in need of an alternator at the moment, and I know Motorcraft units are the way to go (now) - the thing is I will burn through 50 of these things at the expense of AdvanceAuto before I drop $400 on a Motorcraft unit. I'm just trying to find out if anyone else has noticed the same issue with these remanufactured Delco alternators (dim light at idle / poor charging overall.) I want to know if this is a manufacturers defect common to all of the units or I just have bad luck picking them out.

My guess is that the Delco alternators use an undersized pulley - I will measure mine when I get a chance. Like I said, all 3 Delco units I have seen (2 on my car, one on a separate 92') have the very dim alt light at idle, and both of mine have sucked in prolonged high drain, city driving situations.

FYI, the remaned Motorcraft ones are less than $200.

I had a similar issue with AZ starters. I went through 4 in 5 months. I spoke with the district manager and wrote a formal letter, and got them to refund me the money for my starter and I purchased a Motorcraft one.

Doug

 

[ViPER1313]

That is the only 90amp Motorcraft unit I see posted. Enough with telling me to buy a new alternator - I'm not interested in doing so.