Yesterday, on the highway, i found out that the little light on my speedo that tells me my generator is stuffed, was stuffed.
Needless to say, this meant that my generator was well and truly stuffed and had probably been so for quite a while.
Im going to need something thats going to help my car get from point A to any point on the alphabet (or beyond), charge my battery, let me use my lights, indicate, listen to some cd's and hopefully not let me trundle to a stop on the side of a busy highway.
So do i buy a brand new generator, or go the switch to the alternator? ive heard differing views on both. But which one is going to go the longest, be most reliable and give me all the juice i need?
Also, can you use your generator/fan housing dress-up kit on an alternator? i really wouldnt like to part with the nice shiny red bits on my fan housing and whatnot.
So, your thoughts... which one is the better one to go for?
thanks!😀
r u in Sydney? if so pop down to Vintage Vee Dub in Campsie and buy a reco generator $250.00
change your voltage reg at the same time...
Thanks dakdat... unfortunately im not in sydney 🙁 and at first i thought it was the regulator playing silly buggers with me as ive been told they do that, but no... it was the generator... again.
The advantages of an alternator are:
They charge at idle. Higher output. Less drag on the engine at high revs.
The disadvantages are:
They cost more - the alternator kit costs more and if you don't have an electric fuel pump you'll have to get the later style mechanical one. You need to do some minor modifications to your wiring.
As to your dress-up bits, they should be OK, unless you have a chrome wrap around the generator - it obviously won't fit.
Out of curiosity, how expensive/ difficult to set up is an Alternator?
I recently had my battery completely drained (Long story *rollseyes*) which fine because I just jump started it from the other car but I got into trouble after work because I hadn't driven it quite enough for the generator to charge it back up, I'm thinking an Alternator might have done a better job? ( do have the fuel pump mentioned)
[Edited on 8-6-2003 by Shani]
Alternator has more amps, charges are lower rpm, and is far more reliable. You should be able to pick up a working alternator and stand for $150-$200. I have done a 2nd hand alternator conversion to my old 1776 for $150 and never had a problem with it.
Starbuggy, I know I have already told you this, but I thought I'd post it for the benefit of others.
Wes -
www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control...
🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.
Couldn't help but put this in,
You can drive home on a dead battery with a generator (and a push start), no such luck with an alternator!!
They both have their advantages, but both also do a good job 😉
Interesting point Andy, I didn't know that one. Because I did drive home after a push start (now the girls all groan when they see me drive in with the bug though) wouldn't have been possible with an alternator? Hmmm maybe I should leave it as is then....
you can drive home with a flat battery with an alternator, you just need to get jump started by a good battery to excite the alternator. Once it's running you can pull the battery out completely and it will keep going.
Wes -
www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control...
🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.
That was the problem Wes, I couldn't find a single person who had 'jumper leads' with them that night, seriously considering carrying them myself, just have to find somewhere safe to stash them.
There's a guide to the wiring for an alternator at
http://www.cbperformance.com
Just click on "Alternator Wiring Guide". You'll have to adjust it for the type of alternator you're using.
I've done it on my Baja and '62 Ragtop from this guide.
Hope this is a help.
Regards,
Mark:thumb
Don't ever let anyone tell you, "It can't be done."
But which one lasts longer? or are they about the same? I dont want to spend $300 on an alternator if it only lasts 5 years while the same priced generator lasts 10 years or vis versa.
For all intents and purposes, i think im going to go the alternator, but would still like to find out what the life of one of these things is!
hiya Wes, check your u2u🙂)
Most cars today on the road, run an alternator. I've had one on my '71 Beetle, for years and it came off a Holden motor before that, without any troubles.
Regards,
Mark:thumb
Don't ever let anyone tell you, "It can't be done."
alternators live far longer.
Starbuggy, send the U2U again, it doesn't seem to have made it. My inbox may have possibly been full. 🙂
Wes -
www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control...
🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.
Alternator, being later technology, should last longer. But sometimes diodes fail - fortunately they're cheap to replace.
BTW, Wes, what does your second quote say - the blue on grey is unreadable?
I must be running a different forum colour scheme to you, cos it works on mine 😀
"Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, even if you win your still retarded"
Wes -
www.offroadvw.net - 200HP Quad Cam V6 in a VW Baja - with climate control...
🙂
www.taylorcycles.com.au - My DH MTB racing brothers shop.
i have been using a generator in mine now for 12 years only having replaced the brushes in it.
i had an alternator that i got for nothing but gave it away due to the fact that the generator works fine
