altenators and water

How much water/ weather does it take to lay an alenator down ?

Is one any better then another Bosch versus ac ind. versus orileily/aotozone rebuilt?

this is on a acvw hillclimber/woods buggy not a submarine, so what do you have to say?

Thanks Kendel

never had one go bad because of rain in my 20 years of bugging

I always use a Bosch Alternator and I have never had one go bad from the rain. I even presure wash the buggy all the time and I have never had the alternator go bad. Although, I try not to blast the alternator directly with the presure washer..

_________________
Woodsbuggy forum is now on the Tapatalk Mobile app... (iPhone, iPad and Android devices)

The only thing I could think of that would damage an alternator from water, would probably by getting the brushes inside of it too wet. Maybe from washing it and too much water getting inside of it?

-Dakotah

_________________

-Dakotah/koko
keep on keepin' on!!

I am not sure it was the water? It could be just a poor excuse imported from a third world country by our buddies at EMPI!

Believe me it ain't just EMPI.
Any time you see an alternator that isn't made by Bosch it's imported from Asia.
Made by some poor 11 year old kid making $3 a month.
The Wal-Mart philosophy started most of this.............

_________________
Gary

Turbo VW Sand Racer
Polaris Ranger



"If you don't run into the Devil every once in awhile, you must be going in the same direction!"

Davis Motorsports FaceBook Page

I worked at Autozone part time for a while. I would never buy anything of there brand (duralast) alternators or starters unless they are the gold ones. But even the gold ones have some problems. I'm not shure who makes good ones but I know autozone's are junk. I got 20% off when I worked there and I still bought my important parts from Car Parts Warehouse.

_________________
Why do I hate everyone?...................because they deserve it

Agreed, If it's an electrical part don't buy it from autozone.

I had my alt. tested, worked ok. Now what? I bypassed my master disconect and the stupid thing went to workin? Turns out water is worse for dissconect switches than alternators

Same here! Still running the same Bosch alternator 4 years now. They are the best, it is well worth the $$$.

_________________
"Loud pipes saves lives"

I bet my Bosch is 7 years old now. Been in LOTS of water.

_________________
It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit.-
Harry S. Truman

Bosch is the only way to go . Save mony in the long run. Like Roy says...Buy the best, cry once.


I had the same problem. Got my master switch from Tractor Supply. Shouldve known it would be junk. Still aint replaced, just bypassed. Woods repair that I never re-repaired!

Larry

Clean water, imo, won't hurt an alternator, although I would not want to drown it more often than necessary as it would eventually get to the bearings. They are protected fairly well from mud as well. I have had mine for probably over 10 years with zero problems. Funny, there are still guys who say generators are better.. no way, imo.

_________________
In GOD we trust.....ALL others pay cash.

I had the alt tested the tech said it was ok? He hadnt seen one like it b4?
I changed the master switch
I re routed the power side wiring to bypass the switch to eliminate the device and shorten up the runs
i put a ground on the trans to the frame to insure ground
When i start it it will only run of the battery? What am I missing?

Where did you have it tested? I've had the idiots at A/Z tell me more than one alt was good or bad when it was the opposite, and thats on domestic vehicles!

I get mine tested at an independant starter/alt rebuilders shop now, but there aint one of them on every corner.

Dumb question, but do you rev it up to kick in the alt and make the light go out before unhooking the battery?
(Sorry if that sounds like Mr. Obvious, but I have overlooked simpler stuff before myself)

Larry

I revved it with a fully charged battery still wont carry it when i disconect the ground so it maybbe time for a bosch?

Is idiot light working? Does it illuminate when engine not running but "key " is on, but go out when you rev it? If its burned out, alt wont charge battery, so I guess it wouldnt power the ignition system either.

Is it a "one wire" alt. or the type that takes small flat external regulator with the three blade connectors on top of it?

If light works, and its a one wire, my next step would be to double check wiring connections. I went thru similiar and it was a connector end that looked fine, but had junk in it. But my light would not go out. If that checks out I guess next would be to replace alt. or get it tested again.

Larry

The incandesecent light comes on real bright with the ingnition on then goes dim but not out when it is running used to go out. Used to keep running after i turned off the master now it stops running? I found a newer bosch off ebay, with a cool cast "turbo" plate. Was on a buggy that blew a motor. One of those convesion kit things, Maybee a brazilian or mexican bosch?

It is NOT a good idea to turn off a master dis-connect switch while the engine is running. It can pop the diode trio or regulator inside of the alt...

_________________
In GOD we trust.....ALL others pay cash.

I must have hurt mine ? Are those sericealble parts?