So I started working on replacing my valave cover this evening. I looked over at my altenator and saw a crack in the top casting.. No idea how long it's been like this. If I never saw the crack, I would have no reasson to think twice about it. Can't tell if the windings are isolated from the frame? If it shifts will it cause a short? Or is it same potential as the frame..
Thoughts.

Altenator

 

I wouldn’t run that.

 

Yeah, me neither. That belt has a lot of tension on the pulley, and if that alternator comes apart, the damage will be bad. It looks like the body of the alternator is bolted down well, but even still, I'd replace that sooner rather than later.

 

Definitely replace. They are fairly cheap and very easy to do. Swap it out now before it fully disassembles itself while you're driving.