My brand new alternator is dead dead dead

[ng8264723]

I have a brand new alternator (Powermaster). I just got my car running and it isn't charging. I think I paid $100 at Summit for it. Nice Huh. I went to autozone and bought a rebuilt replacement

[patrickt]

Be wary when installing it -- on my alternator there is about one tenth of an inch clearance between the back terminal and the aluminum head.

[jdean]

Mine new alternator lasted 500 miles. Got a new one at Autozone.

Beats my new MSD distributor which was DOA, fortunately Summit replaced it right away, but it drove me nuts over a week or so of trying to diagnose the problem.

[Sledge]

Patrick has a good point--I've enjoyed the the alternator-to-head spark show myself, which could foul up the internal regulator (I'm assuming a single-wire alternator).

Talk to Powermaster about getting it repaired or replaced. My dealings with them have been very good. They have been responsive and repaired my first alternator for free even though I was probably the one responsible for its failure. Recently they have been very helpful in getting a starter and another alternator repaired and went out of their way to make sure I got what I wanted and what I needed.

First rate people in my view...

Cheers

[Got the Bug]

My original Powermaster crapped out out at about 1K miles. The replacement has been going strong for 7K miles. If it goes out again, I may switch brands. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one will last. I haven't done it, but Powermaster sells a rebuild kit for around $25.

[FWB]

i also only got 1000 miles out of mine, when i took it off little pieces of plastic were falling out of the holes. i have the mini one wire. took it to a shop where they rebuild alternators and starters. i was told they are junk inside, it was rebuilt with upgraded parts and setup for a higher output 3000 miles and no issues.

[Snakebit]

I have a Powermaster alternator with 2K. So far so good. Back in the day when you bought "Performance Parts" they were heavy duty and out lasted OEM parts. Today it's all cheap crap made in Mexico or China. If the Powermaster craps out, I'll get one from NAPA with a 2yr warranty.

[ng8264723]

My block has so much expoxy paint on it there is no way it shorted. Ir was just garbage
chris

[ng8264723]

The funny thing is i would never had thought the new alt would be dead? I have had some bad luck with this car
chris

[Rick Parker]

I got a 1963 Neece Alternator (same as on 289 Cobra) off of a 1963 Full size Mercury Montclair 20 years ago at a wrecking yard and its still going strong.???? Go figure

[ng8264723]

I should of used one of the old alternators I had sitting on the shelf in my barn. I thought brand new would have been better
chris

[mickmate]

Funny, we just lost a Motorcraft at only 500 miles.

[pusherfans]

it may not be your alternator. I just went through all of this. I changed the alternator 3 times and the regulator 3 times. The first alternator was actually dead (bearings) but the others were fine. My problem was lose battery terminals and other connections tightened by screws. check the main fuse connections, starter connections and regulator connections. you may try a new regulator from Car Quest (only one made in USA)

[JBCOBRA]

I'm running a "one wire" Jones Racing alternator. On my third rebuild, but it is totally my fault. If you ground a racing alternator on the hot side, they fry, because they have no internal switch. You can't jumpstart or put a charger on without diconnecting the battery. I'm living and learning

[PANAVIA]

The best rebuilt alternators I have had come from delco or motorcraft

[vettestr]

I am a big fan of the Old School approach of going to a Rebuild House for starter and alt.
We are lucky enough to have a rebuilder here in my area who has been at it for 30 + years. After explaining what I needed out of my alternator and some of the added demands of a race environment but street driven demands he came up with the perfect part for me anyway.

He alters the pulley ratio so it charges more at idle RPM but a deep groove pulley so it does not toss belts at high RPM. He uses better bearings and type for reliability and uses a better electronic regulator with cooling fins on the body used for use in police cars for extra demand. He does other stuff or tricks years of experience have taught him but it all seems to work great.

I am not selling this part or even listing numbers as thats not my point here, in the end it is a GM alt. anyway. My point is check with a guy that specializes in what you need and challenge him to build you a Hot Rod. The cost was a few bucks more than a stock rebuild but reasonable.