alternator

[solidsnakesvt]

I recently purchased and installed a PA performance alternator because the bearing in my original alternator were going bad. So today on the way to work my battery light comes on. (only when the car idles) It did not do this when I took it for a test drive after I installed it. The battery is only a year old and I don't have underdrive pulleys. It is as if the alternator is not spinning fast enough. If I rev the motor the battery light goes out. Has anyone had any problems with the pa performance alternators? Also my car idles at 850-900rpm. Thanks in advance

 

[CobraMarkVIII]

i would say small short, or bad battery. Ive only heard good things about performance alternators. but dont rule anything out... Has this been a problem for u the whole year or just recently with the new alternator, and how old is ure battery

 

[solidsnakesvt]

Battery is maybe a year old. The other alternator still worked but the bearings were going bad. I don't think it is a short because if I give it some gas the battery light will come off. Makes me think the alternator is not putting out enough voltage at idle. I emailed PA performance but have not heard back yet.

 

[Slow95Cobra]

well not saying they make crappy alts. by any means, but it doesnt mean you may not have one going bad. if you have a volt meter check the batt. voltage before you start on the terminals.. then start it, check it again.. should be 13.8volts or more... then turn the ac, rear defrost, radio, high beams.... everything electrical you can turn on to put a full load on the system.. then check the output while its running. if its lower than 13.8 to 13.5, id say its going bad. and you could also have a bad diode in the alt. too....

 

[solidsnakesvt]

The pa performance alternator has only been on the car 2 days. It is brand new. I will check the voltage with a meter later. (at work now)

 

[GR40Snake]

Nobody makes a better alt for our cars than ford. Is your pa alt powder coated? If yes your in for nothing but problems.

 

[98 svt]

Is your pa alt powder coated? If yes your in for nothing but problems.

Why, what's wrong with the powder coat?:shrug:

 

[RoadZOmbie]

Why, what's wrong with the powder coat?:shrug:

Heat, they retain heat.

 

[98 svt]

Heat, they retain heat.

I know, but there's a bunch of vent holes in the casing. HGow much hotter can it really get?
I plan on powdercoating my Alt over the winter.

 

[solidsnakesvt]

The alternator was not powdercoated. I contacted the company and the e-mailed me a ups shipping label and I will be sending the alternator to them today. The guy from pa-performance was helpful. He said they would check it out and let me know what they find. I did end up buying an alternator locally so I really don't need the pa alternator anymore.

 

[Doug]

did you check to make sure you it was the same size pulley? could have been a simple mistake.

 

[solidsnakesvt]

It was the same size pulley

 

[Bens4vcobra]

Nobody makes a better alt for our cars than ford. Is your pa alt powder coated? If yes your in for nothing but problems.

agreed. i've never been a fan of "overkill" power accessories for our cars. keep in mind also that with your pullies, your alt is being driven slower than stock. in my cobra, whenever i'd sit at idle the lights would dim and voltage meter drop. when i reved the motor the lights would brighten and voltage meter went back up. i never experienced my battery light coming on, but with pullies it seems everyone's report of using them is different, some have issues some dont. thats just my observation.

 

[solidsnakesvt]

I dont have underdive pullies. I have the stock pullies. I would expect this with underdrive pullies as I have experienced this on my 91 gt.

 

[caliboy08]

i had a sinilar problem with a PA 200amp on my 96 cobra... PA figured that the alt wasn't spinning fast enough at idle, and had me send it back and they fitted a different pulley on it.. it was based on idle speed and voltage output from the alt..