Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: JZ1276 on November 22, 2006, 12:07:56 AM

Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: JZ1276 on November 22, 2006, 12:07:56 AM
it's whining. I have an 88 XR 7. Normal?
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 22, 2006, 12:37:02 AM
Is it a new one? It souldn't whine so loud that you can hear it with the hood closed and the motor running.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: Dogcharmer on November 22, 2006, 01:58:23 AM
Definitely not normal... Are you sure it's the alternator and not the power steering?
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: vinnietbird on November 22, 2006, 09:14:01 AM
Where did you buy it?Just because you buy a "new" one from a parts store doesn't mean it's a good one.I went through 6 of the Autozone alternators before I fianlly gave up and bought a 3G and haven't had a problem since.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: JZ1276 on November 22, 2006, 07:08:58 PM
yeah its new, not a rebuild.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: 88lx50 on November 22, 2006, 07:59:37 PM
Put in a 3g and be done with it.  The old 2g alternators are horrible.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: JKATHRE on November 22, 2006, 11:41:00 PM
Yep,

...just happened to me Last year---bought a new one--put it in and it whined.  Took it back--had it tested and yep it was defective.  Got another one--no problem yet.  Unfortunately, it means more work for you.  At least its not a starting motor or something like that!
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: JZ1276 on November 24, 2006, 02:51:33 AM
I went back to the shop and said it was defective and to put in a new one. Mechanic said it whined because it's a bigger alternator and its taking in more air. Theres a lifetime warranty for it so I gues if it goes I'll just get another.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: vinnietbird on November 24, 2006, 08:26:35 AM
The 3G IS a great idea.My current 'Bird has one,and the project car will also have one.You just can't beat it.It's leaps and bounds better than the ones our cars came with.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: gumby on November 24, 2006, 09:20:00 AM
Quote from: JZ1276;115301
Mechanic said it whined because it's a bigger alternator and its taking in more air.


your mechanic is a douche. take it someplace else, if they say its junk have them charge the old shop for the repair. :beatyoass:
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: vinnietbird on November 24, 2006, 11:28:23 AM
You said you have a lifetime warranty,right?Tell them to change it,or give you another and you'll do it.Don't ask them,tell them.You don't want to be on the highway in the dead of winter and have that "more air sucking" alternator go out on you.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: thunderjet302 on November 24, 2006, 03:01:29 PM
Quote from: JZ1276;115301
I went back to the shop and said it was defective and to put in a new one. Mechanic said it whined because it's a bigger alternator and its taking in more air. Theres a lifetime warranty for it so I gues if it goes I'll just get another.


Since when do alternators take in more air. He's full of shiznit. Get a new one and put it on yourself. It's easy and it won't take you more than 35 minutes.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: JKATHRE on November 24, 2006, 05:07:47 PM
Sounds like hot air to me also.  Whining is due to bearing noise as far as my amateur mechanic ststus is concerned---it won't last long like that.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: Thunder Chicken on November 24, 2006, 08:15:50 PM
Actually whining is usually caused by a dead phase. Alternators have three phases, and if one is dead (either by a bad diode in the rectifier or a short in the stator) it'll howl. The alternator might still charge but it'll only be at 2/3 capacity, and will not last long. I'd get a new one too.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: CougarSE on November 24, 2006, 09:51:58 PM
My 88 Cougars alternator whined for two years.. but gave up recently.
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: slowfoxbird on November 25, 2006, 09:01:21 AM
Quote from: 88lx50;115127
Put in a 3g and be done with it.  The old 2g alternators are horrible.


What the hell are these 3g alternators I keep hearing about?  I want one, where do I get one?
Title: Just replaced the alternator and....
Post by: vinnietbird on November 25, 2006, 05:28:02 PM
Go get an alternator for or from a 3.0 V-6 Taurus.Other than re-clocking it (takes about 2 minutes),it's a direct bolt on.You have to modify your harness,but you then have a 130 amp alternator.I've had mine on for about a year with zero problems,and I can run my lights,stereo,heater,foglights (four small round ones instead of two rectangle ones),window defroster,and the alternator easily handles it.It is one of the best upgrades I've done to my 5.0,and,one of the easiest.