alternator question
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: high bridge, nj
alternator question
I've been having a weird vibration for some time now under the hood...i also notice when i crank the engine with the lights on they start dim, get dimmer, then in a few moments are normal brightness. this holds true with the clock during startup and the battery light stays on until i start the engine, and the batts are fine...im pretty sure these are tell tale signs of alternator problems. i'm planning on replacing it in the near future, but should i go with a higher output alternator? the only mods i added that draw juice is the gauges and tuner. if i should go with a better alternator what is the best bang for my buck...
also is changing the alternator as easy as it appears...take belt off, remove alternator, put new one in, and put belt back on...it seems way to easy especially cuz the alternator lies directly on top of the engine. thanks for all your help and suggestions.
also is changing the alternator as easy as it appears...take belt off, remove alternator, put new one in, and put belt back on...it seems way to easy especially cuz the alternator lies directly on top of the engine. thanks for all your help and suggestions.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,764
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, Colorado
To isolate the vibration, remove the sepentine belt and run the engine for a short time only as your water pump will not be pumping. If vibration is gone, then you know it's one of your accessories and then you can narrow it down from there.
The stock 110A alternator on the 2001 is barely adequate at best. If your batteries get too discharged by accident, the alternator usually heats up too much trying to charge the batteries, and dies quickly. I had a local shop rebuild one for me that puts out 230A. A bit overkill, but I run a ton of extra lights, a couple of 1000W stereo amps, and I charge my trailer battery while I'm towing. The most important thing with a diesel alternator is it needs to put out the amps at a lower rpm than a gasser. I went through three stock alternators in the first 36,000 miles and decided enough is enough.
If you don't plan on extra lighting or trailer batteries, etc., you might be fine with a stock replacement as your stock alternator lasted you this long. I've had good luck with the Autolite Premium New and Bosch New Alternators in the past. When buying a remanufactured alternator, I'd steer clear of the Autozone type stores and go with a local reputable shop. A high quality high output alternator is a little pricey, but well worth it to me. Only you can make that choice.
They swap out as easy as it looks. If you have the upper radiator hose that feeds through the belt, now would be a good time to replace it with the one that secures to the bracket outside the belt. That way, you can service the belt without having to remove that hose. It is a quick and simple install. Just be sure to disconnect the negative battery cables from both batteries so you don't accidentally cause a short and smoke the diodes in the rectifier.( I learned the hard way years ago when I was 16.)
Do a search and you'll find a ton of info. That way you can make the best choice for your needs.
good luck,
Austin
The stock 110A alternator on the 2001 is barely adequate at best. If your batteries get too discharged by accident, the alternator usually heats up too much trying to charge the batteries, and dies quickly. I had a local shop rebuild one for me that puts out 230A. A bit overkill, but I run a ton of extra lights, a couple of 1000W stereo amps, and I charge my trailer battery while I'm towing. The most important thing with a diesel alternator is it needs to put out the amps at a lower rpm than a gasser. I went through three stock alternators in the first 36,000 miles and decided enough is enough.
If you don't plan on extra lighting or trailer batteries, etc., you might be fine with a stock replacement as your stock alternator lasted you this long. I've had good luck with the Autolite Premium New and Bosch New Alternators in the past. When buying a remanufactured alternator, I'd steer clear of the Autozone type stores and go with a local reputable shop. A high quality high output alternator is a little pricey, but well worth it to me. Only you can make that choice.
They swap out as easy as it looks. If you have the upper radiator hose that feeds through the belt, now would be a good time to replace it with the one that secures to the bracket outside the belt. That way, you can service the belt without having to remove that hose. It is a quick and simple install. Just be sure to disconnect the negative battery cables from both batteries so you don't accidentally cause a short and smoke the diodes in the rectifier.( I learned the hard way years ago when I was 16.)
Do a search and you'll find a ton of info. That way you can make the best choice for your needs.
good luck,
Austin
