Cory9584

My car normally charges ok but when its hot the guage goes kinda low. My question is, if i bring my alternator to a shop can it be rebuilt to higher than factory specs? I'm going to be doing some work with the headlights and foglights soon so i'd like to have it built for higher amps just to be safe.

ehall

First, test your battery. Second, replace the voltage regulator. Yes, you can have the alt rebuilt. I don't know if it can be rebuilt to produce more power. More power is usually NOT a good thing. Fuzes, upon which your car relies, blow for a reason. Components are designed to work within a designed system.
search for robby. He may have some of the Iceshark gear left. That will be the answer to your lighting questions.

Cory9584

My battery, alternator, and ground cables are already overkill so i know those are up to the task. I know a higher amp alternator would charge the battery up faster during short trips and have the necessary output for whatever lights, etc i can throw at it. It will likely last longer since aswell since it wouldnt be working very hard 90% of the time. Either way the regulator will make it put out 14v regardless but i would also have the extra power when i need it and get the battery charged quicker. Does this sound right?

ehall

Well, really, if you drive the car everyday, the standard system should do fine.
Make sure you have all of the alternator cooling gear in place. Our batteries get worked pretty hard, even when the car is off, so they get weak a bit faster than most, in my experience. I'll bet that is what you are seeing.

fbgh2o

Have you checked the gauge itself? My voltmeter showed 13.6V at the battery when the car was hot and idling, while the gauge was showing just over 12V (at cold idle it showed over 13V). I thought that I had the same issue as you - then I cleaned the contacts in the back of the instrument cluster - black football shaped connectors held down with a nut. Made a huge difference for all of the gauges, especially the voltmeter and the fuel gauge.

2bridges

If it is happening only hot , your radiator fan(s) may be pulling to much voltage. (bad fan motor)

have a noisy fan?

Cory9584

I checked the guage and its pretty accurate, it stays low whether the fan is on or not. Its not horribly low but i always like top notch charging which this definately isnt.

ehall

so how many volts are you reading with the multi meter?

Cory9584

its around 13.5 which probably nothing to worry about but i just want to know if its possible to build the factory alternator to handle more amps. I'm going to be adding some serious lighting and want a charging system thats capable of that plus some if its possible. eg I want it to be strong enough where my gauge will never move from 14v regardless of whats on.