North American Turbocoupe Organization



3G alternator - PSA
martin0660 Offline
Posting Freak
#1
Just consider this a public service announcement, as i dont fully understand the failure mechanism right now, but sure understand the result. I'm also sure this has nothing to do with PA performance directly, but maybe more of interest to some.

I purchased a PA Performance 3G alternator for my 88 TC about 3 years ago. I ran it two full seasons on there, and recently converted it over for my Capri (v-belt). I have been daily driving the car for at least two weeks. During start-up, I checked the voltage as spot on 14.5 volts. This car is rather light on power deamnd, so all was good.

Well, I go out this morning to start the car ,and the battery is dead. No biggie, I grab my start pack, and it fires right up. I just assumed i left something on. So I drive to work, and when I pull into the parking lot, I can smel lbattery. Pop the hood, and there is vapor coming from the battery. Nothing I can do, so I work the day. After work, i jumped the car again and thtrew my DMM on the battery, 18 VOLTS...yikes!!!!

So I pull the alternator, and rip into it. I did a quick online search and found a voltage regulator that should work. I'm glad I pulled it before going to the store. Looking at the brush pack, they were a little worn, but I had no idea how bad.

On a 3G, you use a pin to hold the brushes back for installation. My brush pack was work so that one of the brushed was to that hole, the other past that. This is over 50% of the brush gone. So i'm not sure if the brushed took out the VR, or what, but thought it interesting that the brushes were gone so quick, and the VR failed this way.

Threw in a new set of brushes and a voltage regulator, and all seems to be fine now. I geuss the point to this long story is to check your brushes if you have the alternator off, and watch out for failing voltage regulators. I know lots of folks use JY alternators for this upgrade, mine was not, and I still had issue. I'm not sure if this was a fluke, or what, but scared the snot out of me Wink

Bob Myers
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AerobirdMotorsports Offline
Banned
#2
Damn! Good info to watch for Bob. I'm glad you're still looking out for us slow TC guys Wink
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trashline Offline
Posting Freak
#3
Quote:Originally posted by AerobirdMotorsports:
Damn! Good info to watch for Bob. I'm glad you're still looking out for us slow TC guys Wink
Slow speak for yourself lol.

Bob was your TC daily driven? or was it just used for track? was it alot of miles on the alt before it crapped brushes? after three years you would think with very little milage that half the brushes wouldnt be gone. Im sure the warrenty is up but maybe you could benefit from questioning PA performance about this
Brian

www.BCPCustom.com

06 Cobalt SS
66 mustang 289 C4 handfully modded

Stingers IC install and tbird photos
http://community.webshots.com/user/trashline
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Pete D Offline
Administrator
#4
Good info Bob. I'm curious, what ran the battery down if it was getting excess voltage. Or was the battery completely killed by too much voltage (I think I heard somewhere this could be an outcome of too much voltage]
Pete Dunham


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GoNYYankees02 Offline
Member
#5
Yeah, I picked mine up on ebay with bad brushes and replaced the regulator just to be sure not to have problems. everything has been great since.
88 TC- under construction. Street/Strip toy.
93 F250 7.3L- D/D
93 Jeep YJ- Offroad Toy.
06 Sportster 1200
03 FXDWG Anniversary-not stock
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martin0660 Offline
Posting Freak
#6
Quote:Originally posted by Pete D:
Good info Bob. I'm curious, what ran the battery down if it was getting excess voltage. Or was the battery completely killed by too much voltage (I think I heard somewhere this could be an outcome of too much voltage]
I think the high voltage smoked the battery, and thats why it was dead this morning. We will see tomorrow morning Wink

Bob Myers
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AerobirdMotorsports Offline
Banned
#7
Damn you're losing it Bob. TRIPLE post. Or were you just trying to hit 1600?
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martin0660 Offline
Posting Freak
#8
Quote:Originally posted by AerobirdMotorsports:
Damn you're losing it Bob. TRIPLE post. Or were you just trying to hit 1600?
Post whore Wink I dunno, that never happend to me before, strange stuff.

BTW, its not quantity, it QUALITY Wink

Bob Myers
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#9
Very strange indeed, Bob. Blind guess theory: I wonder if the bad VR somehow took out the brushes. Sounds like the VR "full fielded" the alt, making the current thru the rotor windings go to a very large (resistance and back EMF limited) value. Since the brushes need to carry this current, could they have gotten hot, causing excessive wear?

Were the slip rings on the rotor still in good shape?
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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Matt S Offline
Posting Freak
#10
I thought PA performance had a lifetime warranty on all their stuff. Of course you needed it now since it was your ride. Have you contacted them at least so they can put this to R&D for the future?
Sold it Sad*
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