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Alternator longevity 

 

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 Post subject: Alternator longevity
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:13 am 
Getting Side Ways
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Age: 45

Posts: 829

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Ride: 2004 Mazda Tribute

How long would you estimate the average EL Alternator would last?

Mine was done 5 years ago and it looks like it has let go again.
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 Post subject: Re: Alternator longevity
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:00 pm 
Technical Contributor
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Age: 59

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Joined: 14th Jan 2005

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Ride: 96 XH/97 EL

Location: South Coast
NSW, Australia

How long's a piece of string ???
Depends on the environment it's operating in - heat, PS fluid dripping on it, oil, grease, etc.
The alternators in my cars are coming up to 15 yrs old - age, etc.

 

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96 XH Longreach 'S': LPG, Alarm, 3.23:1 LSD, Cruise, Trip Comp, ABS, Power Windows, Mid Series Dome Lt, Climate Ctrl
97 EL Futura S/W: LPG, Alarm, LED int Lts, Trip Comp, F/Lane Dome Lt, Climate Ctrl, T5 Conversion

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 Post subject: Re: Alternator longevity
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:34 pm 
Getting Side Ways
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Age: 56

Posts: 6467

Joined: 18th Dec 2006

Ride: 93 ED sedan

Power: 161 rwkw

Location: Rockhampton
QLD, Australia

The alternator in my ED is the original untouched unit......1993.......but it hasn't quite got 140K on it yet.

 

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 Post subject: Re: Alternator longevity
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 9:52 pm 
Technical Contributor
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Age: 44

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Ride: 2.0 Turbo VW

Power: 142 rwkw

Location: Seaford State:
VIC, Australia

Keep it cool and free from foreign fluid it'll last a long time.

Biggest killer of Alternators is fluid, Heat and Belt tension.

And by heat i mean both types.... Power drain causing it to work hard and the minimal airflow reason.


At one stage i went through 2 AC pumps, Firstly i blamed higher RPM and then figured out the temp was killing them, modified my thermo's to run flat out when AC was on and never had a problem since.

 

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 Post subject: Re: Alternator longevity
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 8:40 am 
Getting Side Ways
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Age: 45

Posts: 829

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Ride: 2004 Mazda Tribute

Looks like it was PS fluid contamination, although not soaked like last time. :x

Not impressed... what a stupid place to put the reservoir drip location! Either there is a leak in there, (although the fluid level has been static for months) or someone was sloppy when last refilling it.... and it wasn't me.

Another $430 gone

On the plus side, it runs a lot better (the electrical system isn't struggling anymore I guess.)
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 Post subject: Re: Alternator longevity
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 3:20 pm 
Stock as a Rock
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Age: 35

Posts: 196

Joined: 13th Sep 2011

Ride: EB falcon

Location: Boyne Island
QLD, Australia

an alternator is as good as any other part of a car it may last 30 years b4 it goes or could last a few minutes, all car parts are pretty much luck of the draw, but as long as you keep it clean and maintained you could have soething that will outlive the body of the car.
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