alternator question please help

gabester · 02-06-2004, 04:44 AM

How do I know if I need to change it?

and

Can I do it on my own? Is is easy?

thanks

Malice Racing · 02-06-2004, 05:35 AM

it isn't hard to swap it out.

you juck the car up, take the wheel off and you can get it from underneath.

if you have a second form of transportation, pull the alt and take it to advanced auto. they'll test it for free.

Joeybagodonuts · 02-06-2004, 02:33 PM

YEAH BUT DONT GET AN ALTENATOR from autozone or any of the auto stores, even with a lifetime warranty youll be replacing it every 3-6 months like clockwork, either drop me an email (we have near new ones in stock, they all fit and we send the latest model with proper plug to bolt right in) or get one from saturn (pay out the ass tho....) otherwise youll be swearing the day you put an aftermareket alt in... i see em fail, FIVE in a row out of the box....

KAdams4458 · 02-06-2004, 03:09 PM

Yeah, avoid ANY remanufactured alternators for Saturns, even the ones directly from Saturn. They're all full of untested old parts, new low-grade Taiwanese electronic components, and poor assembly work.

Buy only good used units,NEW units from Saturn, or build your own the right way like I did.

gabester · 02-07-2004, 02:07 AM

I found the problem it was the alternator. We actually started the car and took off the positive cable and the car died which meant an alternator problem in this cas. We took the alternator off and tested it and the voltage was really low. Runs good now with a new alternator 74.00 bucks. Not too bad

KAdams4458 · 02-07-2004, 10:31 PM

Ouch. $74, eh? it sure ain't new and it'll be a miracle if it has anything more than a fancy sticker and a new regulator from Taiwan.

Don't forget how to swap it out because chances are you'll be doing it regularly now.

Joeybagodonuts · 02-09-2004, 05:35 PM

kc's correct, you could have gotten a nearly new late model one form us for 35.00 but so you know, NEVER take off the negative cable on any modern car, one that trick doesnt work anymore, nearly all cars will die without battery hooked up nowadays also you CAN damage the car...

KAdams4458 · 02-09-2004, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeybagodonuts

kc's correct, you could have gotten a nearly new late model one form us for 35.00 but so you know, NEVER take off the negative cable on any modern car, one that trick doesnt work anymore, nearly all cars will die without battery hooked up nowadays also you CAN damage the car...

Yeah, Joey is right about not disconnecting the cable , specifically with the motor running. I learned that the hard way a number of years ago with my '91 S-10. You can blow some expensive stuff doing that. I learned that new computers for three-year-old trucks cost 800 bucks.