Speaking of alternators
03-05-2020 | 02:24 PM
#31
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 193
From: Under Cruella's Thumb
Forgive me from pointing this out. I'm sure it's a trick of the camera in your fourth picture, but...
That wiring harness and the wires showing look like they were last serviced by a wild Madagascar feces flinger. Those large brownish crispy tubes used to be bright red primary conductors. The patched-together wiring to the pressure sender and the oil level switch are I'm sure atypical. Broken heat and oil sleeve too. I'm sure the rest looks brand new, and this is just a local condition meant to fool us. [/rant mode]
As shared earlier, we place a whole lot of faith in a new alternator curing some very basic wiring deterioration issues in our cars. Upgraded higher-output alternators make more heat in those wires and connections that now have higher resistance.
In my casual opinion, you'll gain back the lost capacity plus get to use any extra the new alternator has if you can replace the front-of-engine harness with a new one. Several of our vendors offer modern replacements with tinned corrosion resistant marine conductors, modern more oil- and heat-resistant insulation and heat sleeves, and will put bigger primary conductors in the harness to support the extra alternator capacity. Get with Roger at 928SRUS, Greg Brown of the massive alternator upgrade fame, 928 International, etc. You'll be a LOT happier, and a slew of sniggly electrical gremlins will exit the building once you can get enough current through those wires to bring the voltage up.
That wiring harness and the wires showing look like they were last serviced by a wild Madagascar feces flinger. Those large brownish crispy tubes used to be bright red primary conductors. The patched-together wiring to the pressure sender and the oil level switch are I'm sure atypical. Broken heat and oil sleeve too. I'm sure the rest looks brand new, and this is just a local condition meant to fool us. [/rant mode]
As shared earlier, we place a whole lot of faith in a new alternator curing some very basic wiring deterioration issues in our cars. Upgraded higher-output alternators make more heat in those wires and connections that now have higher resistance.
In my casual opinion, you'll gain back the lost capacity plus get to use any extra the new alternator has if you can replace the front-of-engine harness with a new one. Several of our vendors offer modern replacements with tinned corrosion resistant marine conductors, modern more oil- and heat-resistant insulation and heat sleeves, and will put bigger primary conductors in the harness to support the extra alternator capacity. Get with Roger at 928SRUS, Greg Brown of the massive alternator upgrade fame, 928 International, etc. You'll be a LOT happier, and a slew of sniggly electrical gremlins will exit the building once you can get enough current through those wires to bring the voltage up.
03-05-2020 | 03:11 PM
#32
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 283
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
03-05-2020 | 03:35 PM
#33
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 112
From: Los Altos CA
+1 on an underlying problem that an unneeded aftermarket “upgrade” would only mask. Looks like you have an earlier car, so do I, an ‘83. I have always run the stock alternator and even with dual 100w halogens back when I ran them, a powerful amp, full AC and everything on the car running I have never had a lack of electrical power, surges, dropouts or charging problems. It’s been entirely reliable and uneventful, frankly. OTOH, my harnesses were never as bad as yours. In fact I was really on the fence about the need to replace my front-of-engine harness but did the research and found that people were reporting very positive stories after replacement. In retrospect, I think I caught things just prior to having them cause issues.
In any event, your car your money but you need to do the research too and understand the issues. Find your underlying problems (we’ve already pointed out the obvious ones) and you and your car will be MUCH happier in the long run.
In any event, your car your money but you need to do the research too and understand the issues. Find your underlying problems (we’ve already pointed out the obvious ones) and you and your car will be MUCH happier in the long run.
Last edited by rjtw; 03-05-2020 at 04:09 PM.