What kills alternators so fast on RX7s???


I would like to stop it from happening so much...



Is it the high rpms that kill them?


Is the heat killing them???


Need extra grounds?

 

Didn't know it was a problem .

The stock alternator is good for around 100,000-120,000 miles in my experience. The alternator has just enough juice to run the car stock - when you add big stereos, lights, etc. it will start to show its age. Parts store alternators aren't all they're cracked up to be sometimes, too.

I put a 3rd gen alternator in my car sometime back and have had no problems, even with lots of electrical stuff.

Dale

 

Well we got this T2 of this guy who replaced the alternator 5 times in about 2 years...

All stock componets on the car.


This past Saturday,, it took a **** or so we thought..
The headlights went dim,, no power and died...

Pulled alternator had it tested one place said bad,, other said it was fine and charging..


The alternator is the factory unit, which has been rebuilt.

The guy who rebuilds these is very good and has been doing mine for years..

I am surprised you say they last so long. I have yet to see one factory unit make it past 100,000.

 

The original alternator in my car just crapped out on me after 181,733 miles. (Everything on my car is stock)

 

how do you know its original? You got the car new?

 

Mine crapped on me when I was out drifting one night with an AE86 Hatchback, just died through one of the turns. Luckily I made it to the closest part store and got a newone.

 

So really high rpms killed yours????

 

Yep

 

The car kept making that beeping noise

 

LOL

 

I'm the second owner. The original owner is a friend of mine. He told me he never had it replaced.

 

its rare to see a mazda alternator fail, the parts sorte ones only last between 15minutes and a year though

mike

 

Original owner '89TII-Never replaced the alternator. Only on 2nd battery.

 

I thought my alternator was bad because I took it to Auto Zone for their free alternator testing and they said it was bad. But I took it to the dealer and had them look at it and they said that the alternator would pass then fail then pass then fail. They were puzzled until they looked over and saw my negative battery cable glowing red. Somehow the connection on the battery had becomed corroded and they said they fixed it, but when I have my headlights on and my windshield wipers going and then hit my brakes, my radio cuts out. And occasionally will cut out with just when I hit my brakes. I think it's the battery cable still but not sure.



-Matt

 

It been my experience that non-mazda rebuilt alts only have about a 1 to 2 year life span.

I think that people or companies that rebuild them only replace the parts that are worn out, and not everything that should be done to truly remanufacture one.

But factory Mazda alts seem to last at least 100k miles usually to around 150K miles. They are by far worth the extra money, just like the Mazda thermostats.

 

Well, I got my car working last night. I put the alternator back on and recharged the battery. Too a few times to start her up but it did. The connections to the Alternator is a little loose so I think that was my problem. I hope to fix that some day.

 

Are T2 alternators the same as N/A? If so, I have like, three of them for whoever wants 'em.

 

My first '90 died at 325,700. It had the original alternator in it. Never failed, never rebuilt, never a problem.

 

ok...so that "beep......beep.......beep.....beep" noise is your alternator going bad?? hmm...

 

No, that is the sound of a bad answer...

beeps are from the power steering computer reporting an error

 

he said high rpm killed it, he kept it beeping... that was a joke aki redline buzzer..

I'm pretty sure mine is stock with 105k miles on it. athough with a e-fan, ign box, big stereo, rewired fd pump, with brakes pressed and lights on I'm only getting 12v at idle now... 13.5 while driving. need an FD one.

 

I thought most altnators die due to either the rectifier or the regulator burning out.

 

I think a lot of alternator problems really aren't the alternator, they're worn wiring and connections. That's why I've built a whole new charging/starting harness for my car .

Dale

 

Thanks for helping everyone with that scott.