Hello all,about five years ago my 87 had the alternator catch fire...I smart enough to smell somting wasent right and got off the road, opened hood,got out,putout.I know all about this problem with these cars.My problem is this,the day my car caught fire it was the smell that alerted me to it.It a smell I will never forget,and every once in a while I swear I smell it again.When I pull over to check the alternator it seems fine and the plug nice and tight but there is a slight order,it's been this way for a whlie now but it always scares the shit out of me...everytime!!I dont really drive the car that much anymore but I am just wondering if any of you have had similar experiances or ever smell any strange sort of burning smells coming from engine compartment.Thank you for all replies in advance...the crooked bird owner... Eric
Man this is strange that you are posting this today. For the last few day's I also have smelled something burning after I stop and park the car. It also seems to be coming from the engine compartment through the air vents or behind the dash. I never seen smoke and I never find anything that looks like it is burnt or burning! I recently put in a new oil sending switch and I also removed a new radio that was giving me blown fuse trouble. I just put the old stock radio back in but I never hooked it back up. I just taped off the ends of all the wires and the antenna jack with electrical tape and stuffed them back in behind the radio and put the dash back together. I dont know what the burning smell could be in my car either. Is it the taped off radio wires, or the new oil sending switch?????????? They were both done on the same day so if anyone has any ideas please let me, (US) Know.
Thanks, Roy.
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1986 TurboCoupe 5 speed
All Black outside, two
tone grey black leather
inside. 133,000 on
spe
I had the same problem: all of the winding in the alternator got toasted. After replacing the alternator, I still smell it sometimes and it still gets hot .... too hot. I'm thinking about going with a higher output unit when all up my updates/mods are completed.
hey cnp...is there a better altenator for this vehicle(all stock)..that wont catch on fire!!...because i'd be open to changing mine just so i get some peace of mind,i would relly hate to see my mint bird all up in flames...then i'd own a firebird ugh!!
Look in the "Technical Articles" section .... there is an article on installing a 130 amp alternator. I think that's the way to go.
Carl