Hello, I think I'm having a problem with my new alternator. It was working fine until today. The battery and brake light stayed on on my way to pick someone up. It turned off 12 minutes later. THe funny things is I smeeled something wierd the other day. It smelled like burning. Smoke was coming from the alternator area . Maybe I have the belt on too tight? Its working now, but should I loosen the belt?

 

the belt can be too tight...

 

most definatley loosen the belt a little. The smoke and smell of something burning were both more than likely your belt, and that well also make the battery light and possibley brake light come on too with a belt too tight, it will be binding it..

 

one sign of knowing if the band its toooo tight is that youll see a nice clean polished color on the alternator pulley

 

OK. So I never got to loosening the belt, because the car ran out of juice. I had a jump, but it wants to die while running. I don't want to get stranded. Nick, you said something about binding. Could that be the problem now? I can't have the alternator tested until monday. I put the alternator in myelf and noticed it the ground on the alternator wasn't tightly screwed on. It looks burnt. Would a short cause the alternator to completely fry?

 

It is the alternator

 

it's not the belt being too tight, you most like shorting alternator because you have it wired wrong. Check the ground, most likely the ground is shorting and is potentially a fire hazard. Get a manual, and re wire it. make sure the positive and the ground are on, TIGHT. Put the belt back on, make sure it's well tensioned yet when pulled on tightly, it still yeilds.

Hopefully you didn't fry the alternator, but chances are you did. live and you learn

Gus

 

Ok its charging and what not now. I had a mobile mechanic put it on and clean up the positive connection. Are these alternators self grounding? He said I do not need a ground wire.

 

yes, their is a possibilty the alternator could be self grounding, if the engine has a ground else. Usually you ground it anyway, just to be safe, so that what i reccomend to do. Make sure the ports are clean. This should fix your problem.


Gus