HELP, where do I get a Hi Po Alternator?

[93nighthawk]

I have seen other members with Hi Output alternators, but for the life of me I can't remember where they got them. Please lead me in the right direction.

Also this will be my fourth alternator on my SHO, could something else be causing them to take a dump? I agressivly drive my SHO sometimes but not enough to cause just the alternator to go. Also before it went, I was having problems with my ATAC, under full throttle it would go out. Would this be related to the alternator not putting out enough juice? Any and all sugestions would be apreciated.

Thanks,

Eric

 

[naval-avi8or]

A bad or weak batt. will **** the alternator faster than you can change it. When you replace the alternator the batt. has to not only be fully charged it needs to be load tested and then recharged. If it is less than 12.5 and you will fry your new alternators voltage regulator. You will not get a immidiate indication of this but the alt. will develope a weak out put and when the batt finnaly drops low enough you'll get the batt light. I can't help you on a hi out put alternator my only suggestion for that is have it rebuilt with hi output components. If you don't have alot of after market high draw electronics you shouldn't need a high output alt. another option if you have stereo that requires alot of power is install some caps.

If you can get ahold of an amp clamp I can tell you what you amp draw should be with the verious components on. You should also check the voltage of the alt. output should be above 14.5 at the batt with engine running.

<small>[ April 13, 2002, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: naval-avi8or ]</small>

 

[93nighthawk]

The SHO eat's batteries about every 6 months, Last time I had the alterantor rebuilt and at the same time I had a new battery installed. 3 months later it went caput, Put a new one in. That one went caput 3 months ago. Could it be the battery cables causing the battery to discharge and the alternator has to constantly fight to keep it charged?

All the stereo stuff is stock (JBL), so there should not be an extra draw there.

 

[naval-avi8or]

Very well maybe the cables. need to make sure you have a good batt. and then test your system to se if anything is pulling a constant draw (ie starter or any electronics). You shouldn't have more than about .3-.5 amp draw key/engine off. I wnet through a spell of my alternators going bad. It turned out to be my batt. It had good voltage readings but it would not pass a load test. I went through 3 alternators in one week. Gotta love that lifetime warrenty. They did finnaly say the wouldn't give me another one cause I had a short in my system. So I took it had it checked checked good. In that process I bought a multimeter with an amp clamp and tested everything with a new batt/alt. and got the loads from both the SHOshop and ford and it all checked good. I havent had a problem since. The bad thing about the sytem is if the batt gets weak you probably will not know till you sacrafice the alt.

 

[93nighthawk]

I never heard that you could blow an alternator with a battery being below *****. I guess you learn something every day. Still doesn't solve my problem of getting a new alternator. It is an ATX so of coarse the only place to get a new one is Ford. I was hoping to find a place that could do a high quality rebuild and so I would not have a power loss at WOT with the lights on. Guess it is off to the parts store for new battery wires, been planning on replacing those anyway.

 

[naval-avi8or]

Also check the post on your starter thay seem to break loose and can short out. I just read that another sho member had it happen and he was having all types of electrical problems.

 

[naval-avi8or]

When you get a new/rebuilt alt. from the dealer/parts store they fail to give you is the WARNING notice that is packeged with it. They seem to keep that 90% of the time with the box so they can ship the core in to be rebuilt.

 

[Todds93SHO]

I have a '93 ATX and just did the alternator because it was overcharging. Now I have a pulse of some sort when it idles, you can see the lights flickering lightly. I never noticed this before so I'm gonna put another one in, I just hate to change it so many times, I've read alot about having to try 3-5 alternators to find a good one.

I got mine from the local parts store, cost about $230 for a rebuild, as I remember. Make sure you stress to them it's for a '93 SHO Automatic, it's a 120 Amp alternator. Easy Fix though, pull the battery, a pulley and done, less than an hour total.

 

[Dave Ladely]

[email protected] is offering a heavy duty 160 amp alternator for all SHOs for about $180.00, powder coated. This alternator would provide good output even at idle, great for those with big stereos, and would run cool under normal conditions, giving much greater life to the alternator.
Tell [email protected] that Dave Ladely referred you, and you should get a quick reply.
I also highly recommend the Heart Interface volt/amp/batter condition meter, reads to hundreths, very accurate. Even uses Pleukert's Constant for calibration! Usually used for marine/aircraft use, so its very good quality.
This combination guage will allow you to determine the load at various rpms and when off. its a 2 1/16" diameter guage, I installed it in an A pillar pod along with Greddy guages.

 

[Dave Ladely]

Oh, i forgot, Cinncinatti SHO also offers hi power alternators. I sure would not buy a stock one when you can get new heavy duty ones for around 200 clams! In fact, I have a spare for sale, unused. I always keep a spare so I dont have to run to Ford for an emergency and lose lots of dough for a lesser unit.

 

[93nighthawk]

Thank You Dave for the suggestion. I saw you recomned ZBEAV on another post and contacted him. He only does alts for MTX's, not ATX'S. Anyway I had my alternator rebuilt by an excelent profesional. Check out my post on the open forum at:

http://www.shoforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=15;t=003495

Eric