Post-Quest Alternator Swap power surge??

[Tay-Lo]

By "no lights," I meant the Alternator Lights of Death, aka a combination of the BRAKE and Battery Lights being on at the same time. That's the dead giveaway for an alternator issue on our trucks.

Ah ok that's good to know. I've gotten used to ignoring warning lights due to my civic's CEL being on for about 6 years now. Its for low back pressure on the cat.

 

[Xterraforce]

Sounds like your old battery may have been beyond bad. It could have had an internal short. They do that sometimes. I've seen one that sat in a parking lot, out of the car venting gasses for several hours until it finally burned up all it's energy. It almost melted itself completely down.

 

[NismoFire]

Sounds like your old battery may have been beyond bad. It could have had an internal short. They do that sometimes. I've seen one that sat in a parking lot, out of the car venting gasses for several hours until it finally burned up all it's energy. It almost melted itself completely down.

Would explain a lot. I'll find out in the morning how well this alternator works- gotta be at work at 6 and the sun won't be up until after I get to work. Shall be an interesting commute, to say the least.

 

[Xterraforce]

How did your pre-daylight trip go?

 

[NismoFire]

How did your pre-daylight trip go?

Same problem crept up. Headlights were dim, dash lights were even darker. I was going to pull the alternator after work tonight but I got off WAAAY later than I expected to, and the heat took all the energy I had out of me.

I'm beginning to wonder if I have a short somewhere. I heard the alternator working/whining on my way home tonight, then 2-3 minutes later it would stop. It's the damndest thing.

 

[drbandkgb]

I'd replace that alt

 

[NismoFire]

I'd replace that alt

I am. I tried 3 times today to pull it off, and after I got behind the wheel, it started POURING rain. Tried again, got the hood popped, poured and stormed...AGAIN.

I took that as a sign. I'll try again tomorrow.


Plus I have to contact RockAuto and get some sort of return worked out.

 

[Xterraforce]

At this point it pretty much has to be wiring or a bad alternator. It seems the alternator is the most likely problem. Without experiencing it first hand it really sounds like the regulator in the alternator is bad. It's like it works right sometimes then has fits of no charge and overcharging.

 

[Pro-2X]

If you are going to seriously look at a 2nd Gen, I would just try to get a refund and buy a cheap AZ alt.

 

[NismoFire]

If you are going to seriously look at a 2nd Gen, I would just try to get a refund and buy a cheap AZ alt.

I just submitted the exchange request and printed my return label.

Dad and I talked about it and put a screwdriver on the back of it while running...it didn't stick. Let it run for a few minutes, heard the alternator kick on, screwdriver stuck, then no sooner than I put the screwdriver on it, it cut off and the screwdriver fell.


Only thing that concerns me is the information they want with the return....they want the VIN off the vehicle, and since this is for a Quest, obviously I don't have a Quest VIN to submit with it...

 

[Xterraforce]

Find a Quest in a parking lot or junk yard maybe?

 

[Muadeeb]

they want the VIN off the vehicle, and since this is for a Quest, obviously I don't have a Quest VIN to submit with it...

Try this one on for size:
4n2zn15t21d885522

 

[NismoFire]

Try this one on for size:
4n2zn15t21d885522

Thanks buddy. What year is that one? I put that I had a 99.

 

[Xterraforce]

Thanks buddy. What year is that one? I put that I had a 99.

The tenth digit indicates this is a 2001. You need an X there for a 99. Seems appropriate, yes?

 

[NismoFire]

I don't think it should matter, as the PN says it's for 99-01.

 

[Xterraforce]

I doubt they'd question it then. People tell me the wrong year when ordering parts all the time.

 

[Muadeeb]

If you do want a 99, here's one 4N2XN11T5XD885522

 

[NismoFire]

If you do want a 99, here's one 4N2XN11T5XD885522

Deeb, you rock. Rep for you, good sir.


Well, I tried to Rep you, but apparently I have to spread some more love around elsewhere before Repping you again. WTF, over?

 

[Jack Stilts]

I ordered that same alternator from RockAuto. When I broke the mount for the ground bolt, I was going to take it out and return it. They didn't ask me for a VIN. That's weird.

 

[Muadeeb]

Deeb, you rock. Rep for you, good sir.


Well, I tried to Rep you, but apparently I have to spread some more love around elsewhere before Repping you again. WTF, over?

I'll be honest: pulled the basic VIN from the service manual, threw in a random 5 digit code for the production number, then ran it through a VIN decoder to get the check digit.

 

[NismoFire]

Pulled the alternator this morning, took it to AZ and it bench tested bad.

I've got this down to an art now... 32min from the time I started disconnecting the battery to the time I crawled out from under the truck.

 

[Xterraforce]

I'll keep that in mind when it's alternator time for me. I'm glad you were able to confirm what the problem is, just a bummer you have to wait for the replacement.

 

[NismoFire]

Rock Auto made it super easy to return though. I've already got it repackaged and ready to ship.