GM CS 144 alternator repair and replacement
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===Long term damage:=== | ===Long term damage:=== | ||
The component that has the highest failure rate on most alternators is the '''bridge rectifier'''. The bridge rectifier (aka rectifier) is the component that converts the ''alternating current'' (AC) that an alternator makes to ''direct current'' (DC) for use by the vehicle. Over time or under high demand situations the diodes in the bridge rectifier can become weak, they don't do as good a job as they did when they were new. You can tell your bridge rectifier is going bad when you first start a cold vehicle and it charges better at first compared to after it warms up. As the diodes in the bridge rectifier heat up they don't work as well. In high demand situations the more AC power the alternator makes (based on demand) the more power the rectifier has to convert to DC, leading to a greater chance of diode failure. | The component that has the highest failure rate on most alternators is the '''bridge rectifier'''. The bridge rectifier (aka rectifier) is the component that converts the ''alternating current'' (AC) that an alternator makes to ''direct current'' (DC) for use by the vehicle. Over time or under high demand situations the diodes in the bridge rectifier can become weak, they don't do as good a job as they did when they were new. You can tell your bridge rectifier is going bad when you first start a cold vehicle and it charges better at first compared to after it warms up. As the diodes in the bridge rectifier heat up they don't work as well. In high demand situations the more AC power the alternator makes (based on demand) the more power the rectifier has to convert to DC, leading to a greater chance of diode failure. | ||
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| + | ===Battery terminals=== | ||
| + | [[File:Bad batt clamp term.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Clamp-on replacement battery terminals are to be avoided!]]Do not be tempted to save money by using one (or more) of the cheap, clamp-on style battery cable terminals. Even if they are tight and look fine, all too often they will cause high resistance and can make it seem like the battery is bad, etc. If the terminal fails on a cable there are better terminals that may be used to replace them, or the entire cable can be replaced with a cable having a larger diameter and quality terminals already installed. | ||
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[[Category:Engine]] | [[Category:Engine]] | ||
[[Category:Electrical]] | [[Category:Electrical]] | ||
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