The alternator on my EJ22 is cooking. The headlights aren't running bright, it's not whining, but the case is getting way too hot. I noticed when I went to lean on it, and almost burned myself. It's hot enough after idling with the headlights on and the heater on for 1/2 an hour that your spit will sizzle and bubble when you spit on it.

 

I haven't done an amperage check or a charging voltage check on it yet. How long to alt's running this hot usually last?

The alternator on my EJ22 is cooking. The headlights aren't running bright, it's not whining, but the case is getting way too hot. I noticed when I went to lean on it, and almost burned myself. It's hot enough after idling with the headlights on and the heater on for 1/2 an hour that your spit will sizzle and bubble when you spit on it.

 

I haven't done an amperage check or a charging voltage check on it yet. How long to alt's running this hot usually last?

 

not very. Altenators can get very hot, and thats normal. Yes burning yourself can happen. This come up from time to time. Its NEVER a good ideal to touch ANY part of your engine untill the car cools down.

 

Here is an example

http://www.prestolite.com/pgs_products/products_0.php

 

rated for 93 degrees C. remeber 100 C is 212 degrees.

 

I thinkg you can burn yourself at anything over 120 (not sure). Cooking of flesh is not a good way to tell if something is too hot.

 

http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1h/bl185h.htm

 

I would look at your bettery first. A hot alt (depdning upon what hot is) means the alt is working very hard. If you have the lights on etc, i would expect it to be hot at idle.

 

Batteries can become big resistors at times. regulators can go bad an overcharge as well as underchrage.

 

Get the system checked.

 

nipper

Or it could mean the bearings are tight. I had an alt seize right up and start melting things because of the bearings. And, I was miles up a 4X road by myself at the time. I was able to rig it up without the alt. in it so I could get back home, but you don't want that to happen to you.

It's hot enough after idling with the headlights on and the heater on for 1/2 an hour that your spit will sizzle and bubble when you spit on it.

 

why? are you spitting on your alt...?

 

 

 

yup,i'd go and have the charging system checked like nip said...

Also try removing the belt (when cool). You can often feel a dragging or rough bearing by spinning.

The bearings on my Autozone alternator were making a "marble-ballsy" sound right before I took it back for it's lifetime warranty replacement.

 

It was hot as hell. The replacement is hot - but with bearings dying, the old was was a lot hotter. Charge was okay.

so what makes an alternator better than another? whas the obvious sign ? price? warranty(affecting price).......... seriously i've replaced alternators before in other cars, and the ej22 engine setup doesn't look any more difficult. i'm going to be running a computer in the car so i know it'll take more amps, thus i want to swap the alternator and battery before i get stranded up on a mountain doing 4x4:headbang:

[...]i'm going to be running a computer in the car so i know it'll take more amps, thus i want to swap the alternator and battery before i get stranded up on a mountain doing 4x4:headbang:

Even with a larger-capacity battery and alternator, unless you monitor the battery charge you could still run it down too far to start the engine. You might consider something like this:

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4027318&JRSource=googlebase.datafeed.WGN+2237

 

You could either run the computer from it and not use the vehicle's battery at all, or could use the vehicle battery and if it got too low at least have a way of starting.

 

Possible drawbacks I see versus upgrading the battery/alt are either forgetting to charge it beforehand or forgetting to pack it.

i've got the battery drain covered. power supply/shutdown controler prevents drain by turning off the computer after a predetermined amount of time, adjustable with jumpers and it monitors voltage going to the power supply so if it drops below 12v it'll shutdown as well........... however, what's the differances between batteries and alternators? good better best , ?

i've got the battery drain covered. power supply/shutdown controler prevents drain by turning off the computer after a predetermined amount of time, adjustable with jumpers and it monitors voltage going to the power supply so if it drops below 12v it'll shutdown as well........... however, what's the differances between batteries and alternators? good better best , ?

 

Batteries it depends on how long you plan ion keeping the car. I always buy the mid priced battery for what ever time ive decided (36/60) i have found 70 month batteries to be planning too far ahead. i avoid walmart brand anything. Sears is good, along with delco and interstate.

Altenators are nonly as good as thier rebuilder.

 

nipper

The alt's bearings seem fine. I loosened the belt and hand spun it, no noise or grumbling. I'll have to check charging voltage.

 

I'm wondering if letting it idle with the lights and whatnot on meant that it's internal fan wasn't spinning fast enough to dump the heat created by the loads.

The alt's bearings seem fine. I loosened the belt and hand spun it, no noise or grumbling. I'll have to check charging voltage.

 

I'm wondering if letting it idle with the lights and whatnot on meant that it's internal fan wasn't spinning fast enough to dump the heat created by the loads.

 

Wont know till you load test the system. Like i said it may be normal.

 

 

nipper