Smoking alternator. Bad

Tiny
DRAGONSLAYERJC
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
Hello! Hope u guys had a nice 4th of july. Anyways I just swaped out my alternator for my 03 hyundai tiburon with a new one cuz my old one was draining my battery. Now there is a lot of smoke coming from the alternator horrible and everything was put back on right. Is there something wrong. Thnks, JC
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 3:23 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If the old alternator wasnt smoking then you have bad alternator or a crossed wire somewhere. Do you have a multimeter?
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 3:56 AM
Tiny
DRAGONSLAYERJC
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
How do I know if I have a multimeter? No, my old alternator was not smoking only my new one and it is not used.
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 4:04 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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So I take it you dont know what a multimeter is?Its a volt meter with a ohms setting etc. Does the alternator charging?
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 4:25 AM
Tiny
DRAGONSLAYERJC
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
No, my old alternator did not smoke but I will double check my wiring just to make sure. By the way the alternator is brand new not used so it shouldn't be bad. Is a multimeter that voltage measuring devise?
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 4:56 AM
Tiny
DRAGONSLAYERJC
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Oh ok thanks I thought that's what it was. Well I don't have one so I will have to check at my local auto zone tomorrow so they can check it out. That way I can find out if this new one is not bad. Hopefully not. Would it still b safe to drive? I did drive it for a bit before I noticed it
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 5:01 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Just because its new doesnt mean its not bad I cant tell you it will be safe to drive if the alternator is smoking. Keep me posted on what you find wiring wise and if its charging.
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 6:00 AM
Tiny
DRAGONSLAYERJC
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Ok guys I finally figured out wut it wuz. Actually the new alternator I bought had a very shiny, varnish like clear coat on it when I purchased it and at a certain temperature it starts burning off creating all that smoke. I bought it at from auto zone so idk if the rest of the stores like o rilleys are like that as well. Well so much for panicing cuz that thing looked like it was deep frying lol
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Thursday, July 7th, 2011 AT 8:40 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Glad to hear you got it figured out it must have been a coating to keep it from corroding while being shipped from over seas.
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Thursday, July 7th, 2011 AT 8:45 PM

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