335 killing alternators - N54Tech.com

mixhali · **335 killing alternators -** 07-04-2018, 07:01 AM

Hi guys I'm having a strange occurrence with alternators. there seems to be some common events that lead to the problem but I still don't know why my alternator regulator is dying. I had the car off the road for some time while I was doing some body work. Over the period the battery started to go flat. I charged it with a charger with the negative terminal removed. Got it high enough to start the car only to find the battery wasn't charging. I ordered a regulator pack of ebay and changed it and all was good. about 2 months later I took the car of the road again, this time replace bearings in the engine, gain off the road for about 3 weeks, battery level goes down, I charge it only to find another regulator has died. This time I have ordered a second hand alternator altogether to rule out the alternator itself. Anyone recognise the pattern and know why this is happening?

JuniorB · 07-04-2018, 07:19 AM

Replace the battery, the cells have died off not able to charge, it's trying to run of the alt power only.

awns729 · 07-09-2018, 01:37 PM

Yeah, I'd echo the above unless you can tell us how you're specifically diagnosing the dead regulators?

3 weeks without a battery tender is enough to kill a battery, especially an older one. When an old battery discharges and is recharged, it's usually at the end of its usable life and cannot hold a charge like it once could.

mixhali · 07-10-2018, 07:59 PM

Diagnosing it by replacing the regulator and it alternator starts working again. What you mean by battery tender?

awns729 · 07-11-2018, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixhali

Diagnosing it by replacing the regulator and it alternator starts working again. What you mean by battery tender?

It's like a charger but has different phases to keep car batteries topped up without damage (no overcharging issues or anything).

What steps are you taking to diagnose the alternator regulator? How do you know that's your issue?

icecoldak · 07-11-2018, 01:25 PM

One of the best battery Tenders/conditioner!!

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-G3500-Ul.../**/B004LWVEKS

mixhali · 02-03-2019, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awns729

It's like a charger but has different phases to keep car batteries topped up without damage (no overcharging issues or anything).

What steps are you taking to diagnose the alternator regulator? How do you know that's your issue?

Replacing the regulator gets it going again. It seems to have stabilized now. Maybe just had some bad luck

codesx · 02-04-2019, 10:35 AM

I echo much of the previous.

Have your batter properly load-tested to ensure it's not straining the alternator.
Other issues can occur if you keep driving your car with a crap battery. (alternator works hard, voltages get low which means that devices pull more current to get the equivalent power (wattage). Above spec current can hurt windings and other electrical components.