New Alternator

[iandvl]

I'm posting this here, as I'm very grateful.

As as can be seen by some of my posts on previous threads, I've been having alternator woes again. I can not tell you how many alternators I've had to replace with reconditioned units during the time I've had my truck. I personally feel that the place that does the recons probably only reconditions the rectifier and diode assemblies, as the last two alternators (including my latest one) were replaced because of bearing noises. Either that, or they just do really poor work. At R2500 per replacement alternator (provided you provide your old one), it also gets super expensive eventually.

Tinus gave me a call after one of my last posts on the matter to let me know he has had new stock brought in from Terrain parts, and that I must come and have a look-see. I did so the weekend.

He had two alternators there. A brand new, stock 70A 4.5 one as well as a brand-new, upgraded 110A 4.8 one which is a little bulkier. We decided to see whether the upgraded one would actually fit. So after stripping out the old alternator, we temporarily installed the 110A alternator to see whether the belts and adjustment hardware actually worked. It fitted perfectly. The plug sockets and bolts for + and earth are placed a little differently on the beefier alternator, but there is more than enough slack in the cables for them to be repositioned. Since everything fitted, we removed the new alternator and replaced the 4.8 pulley with the 4.5 pulley. Then we reinstalled.

Putting the belts back on the new alternator with the 4.5 pulley fitted was a little bit more of a mission. I presume that because the 110A alternator body is a little wider than the stock item, one cannot push it as far towards the engine as the original, and so the belts are a little more snug when feeding them over the front of the pulley. However, it's still more than possible to get the assorted belts fitted. We tightened everything up, and my upgraded, brand new alternator is working a charm.

My old alternator is now awaiting reconditioning after which I shall chuck it under the seat as a spare. The difference with the recon is that this time, I am going to do it myself. I will start a new thread on this one day when I get around to it, and will post part numbers, costs and suppliers and some pictures of the process when I get around to doing it. Sort of like my starter motor refurb thread. :)

In short: I reckon my alternator woes are now at an end. Also, anybody looking for a new alternator (or looking to upgrade their stock one to a higher Amp one) should get hold of Tinus. The prices really are not bad either.

Tinus, you are a legend. Dankie mater. :)

[Peter Connan]

Good to know that the 110A alternator fits on the 4.5

On reconditioning your alternator: be VERY careful when pressing out the old bearings. Especially the one on the front cover. I have managed to destroy many alternator casings in my life. The aluminium is quite thin and gets brittle with age, and it is very difficult to apply the force where needed without specialist tools. I am actually not sure how the specialists do this job. It could be that a bit of heat is required but I have always been worried about damaging the electrical components.

Maybe that's why the rebuilt ones don't last.

[iandvl]

Good to know that the 110A alternator fits on the 4.5

On reconditioning your alternator: be VERY careful when pressing out the old bearings. Especially the one on the front cover. I have managed to destroy many alternator casings in my life. The aluminium is quite thin and gets brittle with age, and it is very difficult to apply the force where needed without specialist tools. I am actually not sure how the specialists do this job. It could be that a bit of heat is required but I have always been worried about damaging the electrical components.

Maybe that's why the rebuilt ones don't last.

Peter, thanks for the heads up. From the stuff I've read, the key is heat. But I'll see what I do when I get around to it. This is not going to happen immediately though - the year is already in full-swing, and there is not much time for alternator reconditioning for me at the moment.

[Tinus lotz]

always a pleasure dude ...glad I could help I think my bakkie needs a 110A on my bakkie

[Dungbeetle]

For what its worth, I use a simple Lucas Universal (aka tractor alternator) in my 4.2D. Nice thing about it that you can replace the regulator etc without even removing the alt. So have some spares in the chubby hole.

Plus that alt delivers full 60A at very low rpm

[Peter Connan]

I assume that means yours has the vacuum pump on the engine, not on the alternator?

[Dungbeetle]

I assume that means yours has the vacuum pump on the engine, not on the alternator?

Yip, 2000 model Y61. My post was just for general info

[Kagiso II]

Way back our friend Christo "Slang" wrote on the NISSAN Website [when it still was] thet he had sourced a high amp alternator for his Sani [before he had Chuck]
I faintly remember him also fitting similar to Chuck

AND the price was VERY reasonable

[iandvl]

Way back our friend Christo "Slang" wrote on the NISSAN Website [when it still was] thet he had sourced a high amp alternator for his Sani [before he had Chuck]
I faintly remember him also fitting similar to Chuck

AND the price was VERY reasonable

I do not know the Sani thing, but I do know that Christo eventually reverted back to a standard Patrol alternator on Chuck.

I do not know what the reasons were for going back standard, but I believe he is now running a ZD30 alternator after his standard 4.2 alternator failed at Goerapan. He got a replacement from Anthoney.

The nice part about the alternator I have fitted, is that it is a Patrol alternator. Just an aftermarket one.

[Florian320]

It seems, my alternator is giving me a hard time.
It generates between 15.1 and 15.9V on higher revs - far too much I think.
Now I am considering a replacement - does anyone have experience with Denki alternators? I found it at Partsouq. Or which brand / type would you recommend, available in South Africa?

It is for my 99 TB45E.

Best regards,


Florian