3.2L Alternator rebuild at 72K ?
07-18-2002, 07:36 PM
#1
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3.2L Alternator rebuild at 72K ?
Greeting to you all. A couple of aquantices, both with 3.2 Carreras (84's) had the alternator go out with out any warning. Both had between 70K & 75K miles. My 88 has 72K and I'm now concidering a rebuild in lieu of being stranded somewhere out of town. Is this a common failure for this milliage ? Is there a better upgrade ?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
07-18-2002, 09:07 PM
#2
Biotron,
Records of original owner of my '86 show replacement of alternator at 72,685.
New alternator was listed as $550,Labor $108
(1999).
I've heard of this before on other 3.2s also.
Records of original owner of my '86 show replacement of alternator at 72,685.
New alternator was listed as $550,Labor $108
(1999).
I've heard of this before on other 3.2s also.
07-19-2002, 05:49 PM
#3
Guys:
This may be quite common for the garage queens, or those cars that are nearly so. You see, if the car sits for a while, the battery is discharged to a lower level than if the car was driven every day. Unless you have a trickle charger in-place, every time you then drive the car for the first time, you put a much heavier demand on the alternator than is normally the case. This ( surprise!) causes the alternator to crap out much sooner. You're asking the alternator to act not as a "topping-up" alternator, but you're asking it to act like a service garage's deep charger. Mine went at 50,000 miles and is not unique to Carrera's. I wrote an alternator replace/repair note in the Tech section of the List ( also found on Pelican site), that might be of interest. Take it out, have a local shop put in new bearings, slip rings, and maybe spring for a new VR,...and you'll be done for under $100.
---Wil Ferch
85 Carrera
This may be quite common for the garage queens, or those cars that are nearly so. You see, if the car sits for a while, the battery is discharged to a lower level than if the car was driven every day. Unless you have a trickle charger in-place, every time you then drive the car for the first time, you put a much heavier demand on the alternator than is normally the case. This ( surprise!) causes the alternator to crap out much sooner. You're asking the alternator to act not as a "topping-up" alternator, but you're asking it to act like a service garage's deep charger. Mine went at 50,000 miles and is not unique to Carrera's. I wrote an alternator replace/repair note in the Tech section of the List ( also found on Pelican site), that might be of interest. Take it out, have a local shop put in new bearings, slip rings, and maybe spring for a new VR,...and you'll be done for under $100.
---Wil Ferch
85 Carrera
07-20-2002, 04:38 PM
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Thanks Wil. It makes alot of sence. I have a shop lined up for the rebuild and will be removing the alternator this weekend. Great article by the way. I'm sure i'm not the only one who will benefit from it.
Cheers,
Galen.
Cheers,
Galen.
