How can i tell if i need a new alternator? I smell like a burning smell and the alternator is pretty hot, the only thing hot in the engine. Is there something wrong with it?
Thanks for your responses!

 

easy your car will die... seriously though your batter will eventually lose its charge and then your power will die. if when you go to jump the car it wont stay on after jump you altenator is gone because your car should be able to maintain its self with just the altenator. I think...

 

Easiest way, unless you like to be stranded, is to drive to your favorite parts store and let them test it for free. If you don't want them around your car (like me), pull it and have it bench tested at the same place. Hope this helps.

------------------
1990 IROC 350
Mods: Too busy trying to make it run right to mod it.
Airfoil, Dynomax cat-back, MSD coil, 180 t-stat, Bald Eagle tires,
Hypertech fan switch, Accel 23# injectors, Holley AFPR, ported plenum,
Ported Daytona Yellow stock base, Moroso valve covers, other stuff,
Ruger P95DC, hot wife, new oil filter, thick rubber floormats, no cats.
18.0 @ 85MPH since I'm one big-a$$ MF
"It's better to have and not need than to need and not have."

 

You'll need a multimeter or voltmeter. Okay, without your car running, touch the probes from the meter to the posts on the battery(- to - and + to +). Get your DC voltage reading. Then start your car and repeat the same thing. This time, if your alt is working, your reading should be above 14 volts.

 

just because it's hot doesn';t mean it's broken. alternators generate electric current, so they get really hot after the car has been running.

------------------
'86 IROC 5-speed
305 LG4
edelbrock performer rpm intake
edelbrock 600 cfm carb
msd pro billet hei
'95 3.23 rearend
hotchkis rear suspension

 

Or take a screwdriver and touch it it the back of it, if it get's magnitized it still works, if it barly works, go get a new one.

 

What happens when the alternator doesnt work? I found a blue wire broken near the alternator this morning, Im not sure what it goes to yet I havent taken the filter etc off so I can have a good look.

Would it cause my car to have big problems starting? It takes about 5-7 cranks of not catching and/or catching and then dieing to start.

Bat just read to have 14 13 volts in it. Ill go find a wire junction and put that wire back on wherever it goes and see if it helps.

 

Take a long-handled screwdriver and touch the metal end to the alternator (while car is running), then touch your ear to the end of the plastic handle. If you hear a serious grinding, it's probably close to going.

 

When the alternator doesn't work, your car will run off of the battery for a couple hours and die. There are no blue wires going into my alternator, but you want to look into that.

Your alternator has absolutely nothing to do with how your car starts. Cranking is 100% battery powered, hard starting problems are most likely attributed to bad starter/solenoid, discharged battery, bad connections, or bad sensors.

 

from experience, your radio will die, youll try to turn it back on, it wont work, then you look at the voltmeter gauge, find out you have NO power and the car dies.

Thats how you know your alternator is dead, oh yeah, and your car wont start!

1990 RS TBI
new alternator