Ralph77

One of my goals for next year is an alternator and battery cable upgrade. I have guy who rebuilds alternators. I know the 136 amp GC and 150 amp Durango is a common upgrade. Little grinding needed. Thing is I want a straight bolt. I grabbed an alternator that would fit my Jeep out of the boneyard and brought it to him. He thinks he can rebuild it so it might pump out as much as 150 amps and quoted me $150. That did not seem overly pricey to me. He is the go to guy in the area. I have read a couple write ups about doing it but as Basslicks pointed out just don't think that is in my wheel house.

RacerX

Sounds nice!
I been thinking something like that...
So ... at Area is that in?

Basslicks

That's not a bad deal really, and I figured something like that could be done with more windings, stronger magnets, better cooling, etc... don't have enough know-how to put my theory into practice though. Just don't have that much interest (or really, time).

Ralph77

I am always finding things that I think might come in handy. I am always emailing links to myself. Think this was the one about the alt rebuild but with the Photobucket debacle can't be sure. And seeing how I am more a show me guy then follow written instructions type that is annoying.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/r...1822aa-835511/

Basslicks

Thanks for the link, Ralph!

As far as photobucket's bull****, if you're using Chrome or Firefox (I really hope you're not using IE or Edge), look for the "Photobucket Embed Fix" extension. I have it added to my Chrome and I can see all those pics.

Ralph77

I tried it but it did not work for me. Then somebody suggested clearing my browser. Been meaning to do that but haven't yet. All my logs ins and passwords are hard enough to remember as it is. Which is why I stay logged in on here and other sites where I am not really concerned about security. One of these days I will just have to get it done though.

Noah Wallace

Ok so I ended up taking it a shop. He said its the alternator (again, only 15 months old). So I found a replacement alt at a salvage yard and put that in. Funny thing is, the alt I took out its pulley spun better than the one I picked up.

Anyway I did that and the humming/ burning smell was gone. But, my battery gauge was low. Even though the battery is sitting around 12v, the gauge is always right in the middle, 14v. Now the gauge is down to about 12. If I rev it up or derive it a bit, the check gauges light comes on and the battery gauge drops all the way down, even though everything still works (although one time it dropped when I turned on the heat).
So I figured my battery took a hit when the alt went out, and the battery is less than 6 months old.

So, I exchange the battery for a new one, put New disconnect clamps on just for the hell of it, and installed that. I checked the voltage before running it, 12.43. I start the car, gauge is still low and then checked the voltage again, 11.6. I got in the car and revved it up and then the gauge light came on and gauge dropped to 0, also everything still working. So I shut it off, checked the voltage again and it was 12.4 still.

WTF am I missing here?

Noah Wallace

So now I have a new battery and I got a second alternator now. Still only putting out 12 volts while running

Basslicks

Woops... I typed the name wrong. I also tried a different "fix" before (I think it's the same one you had previously tried) and was told to clear the browser for it to work... still didn't work. The actual name of the one I'm using is "Photobucket Hotlink Fix".... try that one. I didn't have to clear my browser for it to work. You'll have to disable/remove the other one first.

I don't remember if you already said it, but have you done a grounds refresh? Verified that everything is hooked back up correctly? Checked the fuses for the voltage regulator circuit?

Noah Wallace

The grounds looked fine other than covered in a layer of grease and dirt.

I started it up again and it was squealing when accelerated, tightened the belt, then ran it again. After about 10 minutes it got up to 14 v, but then even climbed to 15.

So I shut it off and turned the lights on for a minute, then started again. Since then it's held true to 14.04 volts after driving too.

So, for now I guess its fixed...

XJwonders

When somebody tell you to check the grounds. It doesn't mean to look at it. It mean to remove the connection, then refresh & reassemble.

VoluntaryXJ

The passenger side door on my 98 xj will not lock. All other doors lock and unlock with the button and I can hear it try to lock but it doesn't. It won't lock manually either. Pulled the panel off and it seems to operate fine. Not sure what the problem is, any one else having similar problems?

Noah Wallace

I did. Hence looks good

Ralph77

Thank You!! Your the best. Worked like a charm. Tested it on the link I sent you for the alt. That did seem like a pretty good write up but thinking not something I would want to tackle myself though. I subscribe to the "Dirty Harry" way of thinking. Probably paraphrasing a bit. "A smart man knows his limititations".

Basslicks

Any time, Ralph! Yeah I skimmed through it. Does seem to be pretty involved. I might pick up a dead or weak alternator from a wreck and practice on it some day based on that article... not something I'm going to try any time soon though. I do, however, want to try rebuilding one of these starters I have laying around.