Alternator replacement

Tiny
THEWIZARD64
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE
  • 3.5L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 176,000 MILES
System charging voltage is way too high, somewhere around 17 volts. Replaced the alternator and the battery and the same high voltage still exists. The wiring looked good on the alternator, is there some kind of voltage sensing wiring that I can look for to repair or re-wire?
Thursday, March 27th, 2014 AT 10:53 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,709 POSTS
There is no resister wire that cuts that power down. The voltage regulator is built into the alternator on your car. Regardless if it is new, It has to be bad.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, March 27th, 2014 AT 10:57 AM
Tiny
THEWIZARD64
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
That's not possible. The alternator on the car also was NEW, that's 3 alternators on this car in the last month (original and two new ones). That is a very unacceptable answer. I just looked at a schematic and there's a 10 amp fuse from the positive junction point that feeds an orange wire back to the alternator, I'm going to check it now. At least I've learned a lesson, don't ask 2carpros for assistance unless I want an uneducated answer.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Thursday, March 27th, 2014 AT 11:32 AM
Tiny
THEWIZARD64
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated. I realize I didn't give all the information earlier. YES, there has been 3 different alternators on this car recently and it's still over-charging. So I'm sure the alternator is not the issue. I'm not a do-it-yourselfer or a back yard mechanic, I'm more advanced than that by quite a bit as you guys are. We need to assume the alternator and internal regulator are good, I was hoping for some more advanced assistance with this issue from you guys. Thank you.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, March 27th, 2014 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,709 POSTS
To be honest, the only thing that regulates the power is the regulator. If you bench test the alternator, does it produce 17v or less?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014 AT 6:13 AM
Tiny
THEWIZARD64
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Autozone said they cannot test alternators a clutch built into the pulley/input shaft as this model does. It's not the alternator as I said before the odds are against it after 3 different alternators and all 3 over charged the same way. The small orange wire going from the alternator to battery + for some reason did not have system voltage on it. There's a fuse in the under hood fuse box between that orange voltage sensing wire and battery + but the fuse was good, so I simply ran my own wire from battery + to that orange wire on the alternator and everything works perfectly now.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014 AT 6:44 AM
Tiny
VANSICKLE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
Have 3.5 engine need to know how to get alternator replaced can you help me?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 5th, 2019 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
Hello,

Here is a guide to help walk you through the repair with instructions in the diagrams below to show you how to replace the alternator on your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-alternator

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, August 5th, 2019 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RPALMER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE
Engine Mechanical problem
2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue 6 cyl Automatic

what are the steps in changing the alternator, can I do it myself or does it require a garage?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+2
Monday, August 5th, 2019 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
Replacement procedures are below. If you don't think you can perform these repairs safely please let a repair shop do them for you.

REMOVAL:
Drain the cooling system.
Remove or disconnect the following:
Battery and tray
Drive belt
Engine cooling fan assembly
Thermostat housing and radiator hose
Outboard/inboard alternator bolts
Idler pulley bolt and pulley
Alternator electrical connectors
Alternator bolts and the alternator

INSTALLATION:
Install or connect the following:
Alternator
Alternator electrical connectors. Torque the positive battery terminal to 15 ft. Lbs. (20 Nm).
Idler pulley and torque the bolt to 37 ft. Lbs. (50 Nm)
Alternator bolts and torque them to 37 ft. Lbs. (50 Nm)
Thermostat housing with radiator hose and torque the bolts to 80 inch lbs. (9 Nm)
Engine cooling fan assembly
Drive belt
Battery tray and torque the bolts to 44 inch lbs. (5 Nm)
Battery
Refill the cooling system.

If you need further assistance just let me know.

Thanks for using 2CarPros. Com!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, August 5th, 2019 AT 5:50 PM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links