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Alternator issue?
hi all, I have a 98 Ssangyong Musso 3.2 mercedes engine and I am having issues with alternators. I bought the car needing a new alternator (has been sitting in paddock for nearly 2 years) so I got a second hand one from wreckers. it worked fine for about 5 mins then started smoking and battery light come on then died. I replaced it again with another second hand one and it worked great for about 10 mins and I turned car off and checked under bonnet to ensure no crazy smoke etc like last time. and there wasnt. As I was about to put bonnet back down I heard a shorting out sizzling noise and I looked down to see alternator was smoking and then caught fire inside. obviously it is now stuffed too :) could the battery I have in the car be bad its 1 1/2 years old. it starts car fine but thought maybe for some reason its overworking the alternator? any ideas are appreciated. thanks :)
4 Answers
- Dan BLv 75 years ago
It's obvious to me that it's not an alternator problem or a battery problem but a direct short of the alternator's output wire to ground. Find the other end of that wire. It's not the battery because you can start the car. Without me troubleshooting, I can guess that the problem existed when the vehicle went into storage. A car can start and run without the alternator being connected; the battery provides the necessary power for a period of time until it's output drops too low.
- Jay PLv 75 years ago
If there is enough juice to crank and start the engine, the battery is in at least decent health. The alternator would therefore not need to charge a depleted battery and "overwork" the alternator.
The problem with any parts you buy from the wrecker's is you don't know what kind of shape it is in. To have 2 alternators fail in row may be unlikely but it's not impossible.
- Timbo is hereLv 75 years ago
Clearly the fault does not lie with the alternators. It does not lie with the battery overworking them as this is actually impossible. If the rectifier/regulator is separate to the alternator then this could be the problem (some are built into the alternator) If not that then you have a wiring fault somewhere.
