#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
Bob Myers
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
Bob Myers