Troops,

I am wanting to do the 3G alternator upgrade..... I went to the Salvage yard and picked up an alternator went straight to an Auto parts store to have it tested.... it failed. Long story short I have taken 3 different units to the auto parts store and all 3 have failed.

Then I noticed on the back of the alternator a "Ground here to test" label... see picture. How critical is this? All of the parts houses I went to for testing just clamped the ground clip to the ear of the alternator. When I mentioned the label, the Tech just looked at it and shrugged his shoulders... the Torx head screw the label points to is to small and too recessed to get the alligator ground clip on.

So,... your input is welcome. Have I just a streak of bad luck X3 or,... are the alternators just being checked wrong?

Thanks,

 

I just got home from pick n pull getting a 3g alternator. I had mine tested at Napa auto parts. They have a idiot proof tester at the store I went to. They have a computer telling the parts counter person where to hook the tester to the alternator. I would try them if you have a Napa in your area

 

Will do,... thanks for the reply!!

 

Will do,... thanks for the reply!!

 

All big chain parts stores have the idiot proof alternator test. At Autozone they look up the corresponding Duralast part number for the alternator then type it into their machine, it tells them what pigtail to use and where to hook it all up. It even tells them what size pin they need to slide the alternator on to in order to hold it still during the test.

 

Lee,
I recently performed the 3G alternator upgrade (within the last couple of weeks). Anyway I pulled mine from a Mercury Sable at the local JY. As the others stated above, I took my 3G alternator to O'Reilly's to have it checked, they used the corresponding pigtail connector and it checked out okay. After the install I took a reading at idle and it read 14.47 VDC. I find it really hard to believe all three of the alternators you took in to have checked were bad.