Alternator modification?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 7
From: Anchorage, AK
Alternator modification?
Pondering about the trick where one can root a 10 or 8 gauge wire from the back of the alternaator right to the driver's side battery. Anything to this other than the obvious?
Also, can anyone tell me the signs of alternator failure? My alternator was making a weird noise as I was jumping my friends car. Everyminute or so it would start making a grinding sound which has me concerned pre 4000 mile trip.
Also, can anyone tell me the signs of alternator failure? My alternator was making a weird noise as I was jumping my friends car. Everyminute or so it would start making a grinding sound which has me concerned pre 4000 mile trip.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,708
Likes: 5
From: Kiowa CO
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,288
Likes: 269
From: North of Greenville
I ran mine under the IC pipe, around the end of my 6637, and around the outside of the battery between the battery and the fender wall. The main reason I went that route was because I was also running a new positive wire from the alternator over to a remote rectifier bridge with an inline 200 amp ANL fuse, and just decided it was simpler to run the two cables parallel with one another. I've taken some pics, but haven't posted everything up yet.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
From: Buckingham, IA
Might pay to have a new alternator behind the seat for your trip. I know that they aren't cheap but neither is a breakdown somewhere along 4000 miles. Yours sounds like bearings and they won't last very long if noisy. Or have yours rebuilt if there is a good shop nearby. Much cheaper and usually much better than an auto parts store one.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 2
From: Bend Oregon
If yours is making noise I would swap it/rebuild it or carry a spare. As for a replacement...well I have had quite a bit of trouble with parts store alternators, nothing catastrophic and I always made it home but I had 2 NAPA alternators that would make my lights flash like I had strobes, they charged fine, in the long run they may have killed my batteries due to overcharging.
Ed could probably get an OEM to you for around $200, maybe a little more.... their kinda heavy
and as a reference point you can make it about 20 miles with fully charged batteries after the alternator fails running no radio/lights/wipers/heat....that IDM is a hungry beast.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 11
From: LA and CO
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Helps reduce the I^2R losses between the alternator's output and the battery terminals, ensuring all 14.4 volts gets there.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
It's bad practice to have your engine running when giving a jump to another vehicle.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 11
From: LA and CO
A big, heavy gauge set of jumper cables will go a long way. with the 2 batteries these trucks have I don't see why you'd need it running to jump another vehicle. If it needs to be running then the other vehicle needs a battery, not just a boost...
