Car:
1998 Cavalier, 2.2L ... everything is stock (no aftermarket radios, fogs, anything).
History:
Car was working fine, then the GF says she jumped on the brakes for something and the "battery" light came on. I got the car, checked the alternator and it was putting out no power. So, I got myself a rebuilt one, installed it ... worked fine.
Then, I drove the car and punched the gas ... alternator light came on. I went to the guy that rebuilt the alternator and he told me one set of diodes blew (he pointed at the area the small-wires connector attaches to, if that matters). So, I lied and said it was always broken and he gave me a new one. From there, I bypassed the two factor wires going to the alternator (the two small ones) and went directly to the PCM. Put in the new alt, it worked fine ... but, once again, heavy acceleration kills the alternator.
So, I am down to a few possible issues:
1. PCM is somehow destroying the alternator
2. Battery is somehow a problem
3. Power wire coming out of the back of the alternator is somehow broken.
If anyone can shed some light on this, I would really appreciate it. I am at the point of having to get ANOTHER alternator (this one will not be free, hopefully he will only charge me labour to fix the diodes). I have a line on a used computer for $90, and I am pretty handy with most car stuff ... this is just killing me.
Have you tried an OEM alternator, instead of a hand-built one? Maybe this guy is doing something wrong in the way he rebuilds this particular alternator. At this point, I'd recommed even getting one off somebody who's done a motor swap or upgraded alts. JUST to get an OEM one in there to see if the problem is still there
Well, hoping my brother-in-law can borrow me a replacement OEM one from the auto wreckers he works at. If it turns out that it's because his rebuilds are trash, I am going to be very unhappy.
I went to the guy that rebuilt the alternator and he told me one set of diodes blew (he pointed at the area the small-wires connector attaches to, if that matters). So, I lied and said it was always broken
Could you clarify ---was it a wire---- that was always broken?
Also, if the Battery to Alternator cable has a broken/intermittent connection, this would blow the diodes
Alont
Verdict: rebuilt alternators were trash. I scooped a used one and it works fine (put 1,700 km on the alternator so far).
