Re: Help...alternator kaput...need advice. (draken)
Hi Draken, I just did this a couple of months ago.
Are you sure it's the alternator? I mean, do you have to replace the entire thing? All the places I tried told me I had to replace my entire alternator, that nobody sells just the voltage regulator. I was able to find a voltage regulator online, and replaced just that. I think the cost for the regulator came out to around $100. However, it was a complete PITA to get the alternator loose to be able to replace the darn thing. Once I had the alternator sitting on my bench, the regulator is just a couple more screws on top of the alternator, no problem at all. The brushes in my regulator were pretty worn down so I think that was the crux of my problem. If you go down the regulator route, there are a couple of different styles that are available, and a lot of the online retailers get the older ones mixed up for the newer model years (i.e. the pre '01 regulators being sold next to the '01+ regulators). It's the more expensive one of the two. I can try to dig up my receipts if you'd like, after I get home this evening.
That doesn't answer your original question though. I think they come in 140 and 160 amp capacity, but don't hold me to that. If you have to do the entire thing, might as well go for the 160 if the cost isn't any different. I don't remember seeing a specific label on mine either. The voltage regulator was interchangeable between the two, if I remember correctly, but now that seems to not make so much sense.
Seriously, investigate the regulator first. An alternator/starter shop should be able to bench test it and tell you if you need the entire alternator. The windings don't go bad too often. Of course, you'd have to get it off the car first. I didn't have mine tested, I just did the regulator and hoped that would fix it, and it did.
If you have a boomin' stereo system or any other high amp draws on your electrical system, get the larger alternator if you have to get a new one. Have you killed your battery yet? I had to replace mine as well.
Cheers,
Justin
